Student Notes:

Meghan was a role model during a group challenge in Tipon, and helped the group accomplish this challenge in record time and in a way the leaders had never seen. She also did a great job interacting with the boys at Salesiano by incorporating English phrases into an Ultimate Frisbee game.

Nora has been challenging herself to try new foods, and surprised herself by trying cuy and even liking it! She also was able to modify a game of human knot at the Salesiano school and the boys were able to complete the challenge in two smaller groups.

Ali impressed us all with her great singing voice when she taught an African song to a group of girls in Kirkas. It was a great cross-cultural interaction translating from an African language to English to Spanish to Quechua. She also had a great time at the zoo and practiced her Spanish with her teacher the whole time.

Ben adds a lot during our service learning debriefs, and reminded the group how much more we gained from our interactions at Kirkas than the children may have learned from the short time they spent with us. He was also thrilled to buy a charanga at the Pisac market, and with help from Dwayne, serenaded his host mother, Bertha, when she was sick with the flu.

Rachel H. has been challenging herself to interact alot with her host family and with other members of the group, has made connections with the other girls in her home, and has been doing a great job adjusting to life in Peru. She calmly and continually encouraged the Salesiano boys to keep practicing their English, even when some of her group’s activities were a challenge.

Kayla has really enjoyed going to the market and learning the names of new fruits, and has been practicing her Spanish during the MMTs in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, and Pisac. She also proved to be a responsible group leader in Kirkas by carrying the group supplies, helping to prepare lunch, collecting trash, and checking in on everyone during the whole process.

Michael did really well translating information about the ruins in Tipon for some members of the group who did not understand all of the explanations in Spanish. He has also enjoyed visiting the markets in Cusco with his Spanish class and has been excited to show his trinkets to the rest of the group.

Nella was especially impressed by her interactions in the village of Kirkas and has been inspired to try to raise money for this community when she returns back home. Although she did not have any formal Spanish training before arriving in Peru, she has been doing a tremendous job communicating by using her knowledge of Italian as a reference.

Charlotte was the first member of the group to learn in depth about the Peruvian medical system when she visited a clinic for her sore knee. Along with the leaders, her host mother, Emma, and the other girls in the homestay, Rachel O. and Ali, have been taking great care of her. Despite this setback, she has been in great spirits and does not want to miss out on any of our adventures in Peru. She especially has enjoyed going out in Cusco with her Spanish teachers.

Rachel O. says she has never used Spanish more in her entire life and has been relishing any opportunity to communicate with her homestay family, her Spanish teachers, people in the market, taxi drivers, etc. She had a great time learning new salsa moves with Ben, and had a very positive experience teaching the Salesiano boys with Dwayne.

Daniel has been the most adventurous eater out of the whole group. He devoured his cuy lunch in Tipon, and also tried the chicken in the Pisac market and reported that the resulting GIA was well worth it. He truly understands a common phrase uttered here: “Lo barato cuesta caro”. He’s also proven to be a superb bargainer in the markets, and has had fun getting to know his host brother.

Liz showed off her dance moves with Dwayne during salsa night, and learned some new moves from Katie as well. She has also been doing a great job communicating in Spanish, has been helping out the other group members, and enjoyed an hour and a half long conversation with her Spanish teacher.

Leah consistently uses her strong Spanish skills, whether it is conjugating verbs in Spanish class, conversing with her host mother, Marielena, or talking with local Peruvians during MMTs. She always volunteers to read in Spanish or translate for others, and gets along with everyone in the group.

Noah has been accomplishing his goals to be more independent by conversing with his host family, communicating with taxi drivers, and learning how to successfully navigate a foreign city. He enjoys bargaining with vendors in the markets, and bought some really cool organic paints during his MMT in Pisac.

Dwayne is constantly entertaining local Peruvian kids, whether miming actions wearing a traditional mask, playing soccer with kids at Kirkas, or giving handshakes to the boys at the Salesiano School. He was also very popular on Salsa night, both dancing with the other members of our group, and with local Peruvians."