Peru Day #1: Rise and Shine
After landing in Lima the day before, our group of 14 EGLs had an early wake up call on Monday at 6am. We had a delicious breakfast of eggs, ham, and bread – and an amazing fruit called granadilla. Once full and happy, our very first day of volunteering began with an initial orientation and project assignments. Splitting into groups, we would tackle two unique projects in Pachacutec, a neighborhood an hour and a half outside of Lima, Peru. We would be assisting in the reconstruction of a school building and of a local community center.
From the hours of 7-2pm (including travel) we got to work shoveling, painting, and sanding. By the time we finished with the day, we came back with dust in our hair and a smile on our faces. After a quick lunch and some delicious fried dough balls (bombitas) for dessert, the crew was rejuvenated enough to head to the mall for some much needed snacks (and breaking of large bills).
With our wallets full of change and our minds optimistic we proceeded to plan dinner. Dinner today would be in the Barranco neighborhood, near the famous beaches of Miraflores. The drive there was gorgeous. A misty and busy city gave way to miles of crashing waves, colorful lights and slightly better roads. We were very excited to check out the beach later during the trip.
And now, for the highlight of the day: dinner. The table was piled high with yuca, octopus, fish, and a variety of unique Peruvian dishes like ceviche, piqueos, and causa rellena. Flavors were bold, conversation was flowing, and the group bonded closer together. As one of the food capitals of the world, Lima’s food scene did not disappoint. We knew then that we weren’t going out to just eat, but out for a culinary experience.
As we made our way back to the volunteer housing, spirits were high. We ended the night with some amazing guitar singalongs and some classic euchre before heading off to bed with full stomachs and excitement for the rest of the week.
PERU DAY #3: Rise and Grind
Day three of volunteering is upon us and we woke up ready to seize the day. A nice 6:20 wake up call for a 7 departure. We had a classic Peruvian breakfast of an omelet with ham cheese and bread with yogurt. After washing that down with some coffee and putting on my jeans I was ready for the day. We walked over to the bus at 7:03, slightly behind schedule. We got on our bus, Consorcio Roma. At about 8:45 we arrived in Patachutec. We split into our two groups. My group walked over to the community center while the other group stayed at the school.
Today was the day! After prepping the ground for the last two days we were finally ready to start laying down concrete. The first thing we did was bring in wheelbarrows of dirt. After that was finished, we had to bring in a large amount of water from around the block. After about 15-20 trips with 5 people we had finally filled the bucket with enough water. Now, with enough dirt and water, we mixed in the concrete formula. After mixing the formula we scooped the heavy mix back into wheelbarrows and laid them onto the flat ground surface. Our friend with Tarpuy Sonqo, Freddie, helped flatten the concrete as we laid it.
After completing half the flooring it was time to leave! It was about 14:00. We got on the bus and got home around 15:30 and had chicken sandwiches for lunch. After lunch we all showered and rested up, but we weren’t about to waste the day! We headed over to the mall nearby to exchange money and get some groceries. I purchased a mug and a comfy pair of sweatpants!
For dinner we had La Lucha Sanguchería, a famous Peruvian sandwich shop. After this we were all very tired and headed home to rest up for another big day. We finished off the night with some Euchre and relaxation.
EGL Family Abroad 