El Bichito (Dan)

So everyday during the week, I take a short combi (mini bus) ride up to the small town of
Puylucana which is 5 minutes away. When I arrive, I usually meet with
Feliciana and/or Melchora her sister. They run the comedor called ¨El
Bichito¨ which literally translated means little bug. It is basically
a lunch cafeteria for kids in the area to have a free meal when they
finish school. In order to receive food, they must go to school, so
it is not a complete giveaway.
My job is to help as much as possible.
This usually entails sorting through the rice and beans in the
morning. We dump a big pile on the counter and then sort through the
little pieces that aren´t quite edible. It´s a great time to talk to
Melchora and Feliciana or just meditate to myself. I´m still pretty
slow at sorting (faster than when I started) but Melchora especially
is miles ahead of me. She says I just need to practice... :)

I then try to get ready for the kids coming, taking down benches,
basic clean up, and trying to figure out how I´ll engage the kids that
day. I usually eat before the kids arrive at around 1 pm, so I can
talk and have fun with the kids while they eat, and try to get the
faster kids to start doing homework. Not all the kids stick around to
do homework, and it´s tough to try and motivate them. One technique
I've been using lately, is blocking the doorway, and requiring the
kids to answer a mental math problem for me before they can go in and
eat. That way they've got to earn it, and I get them all thinking.
After eating, I average about 10 kids staying to complete their
homework with me. Since there are about 45 kids that come to eat,
it´s not great, but it´s hard to get the older ones especially to
stay. (If you have any suggestions, let me know). There is chart I
made (copying the plan set up and introduced by Chris and Kimball, who were here
during the summer) that marks when they bring and complete their
homework. When they finish 5 homework assignments, and the 5
corresponding stars, they receive a small prize out of the prize box.
That´s why it´s hard to get the older kids to stay, because small
prizes aren´t really to their liking. Doing homework with the kids
which I feel is very important, means that kids finish at different
times and just bolt. I can occasionally keep a few kids behind for
reading (they loved the Amelia Bedelia book) and as I´m learning to
juggle, some kids had fun throwing around the juggling scarves.
Before I leave I help clean up the place and make sure everything is
ready to go for the next day.

I know that´s a long-winded explanation, but it really is an awesome
experience. I get to teach a few words in English, I also tease the
kids too (somehow that´s never gotten old) and learn some Spanish
myself. It´s a great way to serve and these kids deserve it, even if
sometimes they are ´traviesos´.

Zoo in Porcon (Nancy)

Piggy Banks (Mike & Natalie)

Today we helped the kids make "piggy banks" out of water bottles. We were expecting like 5 or 6 kids to stay to make banks, but about 25 - 30 kids ended up staying. They had a great time, and they all committed to using their banks to save money for college someday.

Elizabeth at Aldea

Life at the Aldea keeps getting better. We got a new baby at the Aldea named Fabricio. The cutest thing ever, I just love him. I found out that he has Epilepsy and a few days later, that he's also blind. We went to the hospital for him to get an EEG to see if he's permanently blind or if it can be fixed. However, the doctor never showed. So we left and are going to try again next week. We are still awaiting the arrivals of the new interns. We have their rooms prepared and ready for them. We are looking forward to their arrival. Our days are pretty exhausting, I've found myself the other day, realizing that its been a pattern, everyday a pattern of pretty much doing the same thing. Not that its a bad thing, especially when some days can be pretty "hard-core".

The mornings, while Madi and Allie go to the almazen I go over and help with one of the babies/or two. Last week, we had 2 mornings where it was pretty much a baby sitting party in our house. Also the Aldea has adopted a stray dog. I found him a few weeks ago when I was walking back to the volunteer house for lunch, and asked if he was any ones. He's found his way back in, and now stays permanent in the Aldea, and doesn't leave. Everyone loves him, and the kids call him by the name I chose for him when I found him again in the Aldea. His name is Marco Polo, like the game, but since he's now a resident of the Aldea the kids and I just call him Marco. Its funny though, they always ask if he's my dog, but then I tell them he's my dog friend. Me amigo perro. A lively dog that's fun to play with and is good with the children, friendlier than the other dog.

Madi at Aldea

The kids are great at the Aldea, I love all of them so much!! They love to play, dance, sing and have fun! Along with being very loud and just going crazy sometimes but kids are kids!! Trujillo is so much fun and Peru as a whole is just a wonderful country !! I hope that anyone who can will come and help out at the Aldea!! The food is awesome thanks to the Tias. And everything is going great !!