Salute to Hammocks!
The hammocks here at the eco-center have been so wonderfully awesome. This is a picture of Ariel, Laura, Caitlin, and Ally the first day the hammocks were installed, the first week(ish). I have spent many hours in these hammocks enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lamas (and at night, the lights of Tarapoto). I spent this morning in the orange one (my favorite) because I finished my final project yesterday afternoon. After I am done using this computer, I plan to go right back to the hammock and get some more time in before I go back to my little Berkeley apartment.
On going home: I am definitely ready! I have been in Peru 5 weeks and I miss my friends and family and California. I am looking forward to an exciting semester at UC Berkeley (except for my 8am biology class, ugh!).
Days 16-20: Homestays!!!
We got back from the homestays last night- I had such a wonderful time and as far as I can tell, so did everybody else. I will post some pictures and stories now and some more tomorrow and Sunday. We have until Sunday night to work on our final projects. We depart for Lima on the 21st and some of us will go home and some of us will continue our travels, including Machu Picchu!
For the homestays, we split into three groups, visiting three separate communities near Lamas, Peru. The community I visited is called Chirapa. We were greeting with an indigenous festival upon arrival which included lots of dancing, funny costumes, and a pinata type thing on top of a wooden pole. They chopped down the wooden pole and the kids went running for the candy and goods. It was a wonderful greeting. We were truly welcomed into the communities. After the five days, it felt like home.
I uploaded a video onto this computer- it took FOREVER! And...its not working so I will have to post the video when I return home.
Here are some pictures from my favorite day in which we visited a small town near Chirapa and then swam in the river and soaked up the Peruvian sun (some of us got a little burnt but it will be nice to have a little tan this winter!).
Pretending we are part of the fish statue! L to R: Me, Lena, Lauren, Jess, Hannah, Catie, Tracy, Shari (in front)
L to R: Meagan, Tracy, Catie, Lena, Hannah, Me, and Jess
Here is the whole group of us right before we departed. We were sad to say goodbye to our new family and community.
Homestays!
Hello Readers! We are departing to the homestays today in which we will be staying in homes in small communities. We will be staying until Thursday and there will be no blog activity from me during this time. It is going to be an exciting program filled with weaving, farming, fishing, futbol (soccer) and indigenous music. Please send us all your best wishes as we enter this very exciting part of the program. It will be challenging but also very rewarding to learn about another way of life.
Day 15: Another Day Off! Whoohoo!
Yesterday was very relaxing. A small group of us went to Tarapoto and had lunch and delicious ice cream. Here is a picture of Charlotte, Jill, and Hannah being silly with the alien manikins in Tarapoto.
Day 14: Cacao Groves
Unfortunately I was sick on this day and stayed at home and slept while everyone went on a bumpy 1.5 hour van ride to the cacao groves to learn about growing and processing cacao. As a lover of chocolate, I am sorely disappointed that I missed this day. I am feeling much better now.
I knew I would be sick in visiting a third world country and my expectations were and continue to be fulfilled. I had dysentery my first week here (traveling solo, not with the program) and now I seem to have stomach/intestinal discomfort every few days. Not too bad. I will get checked for any unwelcome bacteria/parasites when I get back to the states. The UC Berkeley health clinic is awesome.
Update from your junior instructor
Dear Living Routes Peru 08 families and friends,
My two senior colleagues have given the update on everyone´s health far better than I could. So I would just like to give a quick update on our activities. Today we went to the organic sugar cane fields of Huapo, where we were welcomed with music and samples of organic sugar, or panela, by the cooperative´s committee of cane growers. We received detailed explanations of the process of organic cane growing and processing, and toured the new panela production plant. In the afternoon I gave a lecture on Fair Trade that I hope placed the cooperative and its efforts into global context.
Tomorrow we are heading out to the cacao fields of Pinto Recodo, where we will learn the process of growing and processing cacao. After our Saturday off, we will head out to our community stays of five days. As I said before, I am very impressed with everyone´s spirit and desire to learn. Those of us who have been ill are recovering quickly, and I expect our stays in the communities will be a profound and joyful learning experience.
Best,
Noah
Update from Instructors
Dear families and friends of Peru 08 Living Routes course:
We would like to bring you up to date on the health of those students (and myself) who came down with a tropical parasites infestation. First of all I am extremely happy to report that everyone is up and about. No one is vomiting or having diarrhea any longer. In this afternoon's lecture by Noah Enelow, only three students did not participate out of 35. Julia and Jill were swinging in thie hammocks in the balcony of the upper house, needing still to take it easy, although they are no longer vomiting or having diarrhea or any pain, while Chris was sleeping but not sick.
The doctor who has been attending everyone since day before yesterday in the evening is the coop's manager's own doctor. His name is Dr. Edwin Eduardo Cuba Fernandez. He is the assistant doctor for the State of San Martin Ministry of Health and is also the director of a polyclinic in the city of Tarapoto. He came repeatedly and most amazingly spent from 1 AM to 5 AM this morning with students and then returned at 6 AM to remove an IV from Jessica. He returned at 10 AM with medicines after having made stool tests of everyone and giving each person the appropirate medicine according to the type of tropical amoeba she had.
Tropical amoebas can dehydrate a person rapidly and weaken her. In the tropics, one extremely effective therapeutic response widely used is an IV with vitamins, rehydrating agents and mild pain relievers. After about two to three hours on such an IV the patient is almost fully recovered. I also want to assure everyone that the needles used are all disposable ones. I was there in person to attest to this. This therapy is followed up by anti parasitic medicine in the form of pills, as well as drinking electrolytes.
On this morning's visit I received a call from Dr. Edmundo Anzola from the US organization International Scholastic Traveler SOS. A parent of one of the students had him call me. He was therefore able to have a lengthy conversation with Dr. Cuba who described in medical detail the therapies he was using. Dr. Anzola approved of Dr. Cuba's decisions.
Should any parent want to speak in person with Dr. Edmundo Anzola, they could call International SOS in Philadelphia at: 1 215 942 8226.
Dr. Cuba has identified the source of contamination to the 5 gallon bottled water cans the coop was purchasing for the course. The coop is now boiling all the water used by the students, faculty and staff.
We thank you for your patience and forbearance and we are happy to report that everything ont he health front is well in hand.
The buildings are functional and whatever work remains to be done is non essential and will be carried out after the students' departure.
I now pass the pen to my colleague Kalidas Shetty.
Warm Regards
Frederique
Dear Parents,
Frederique has provided the update on the health challenges from which we are fast recovering. Having travelled to many parts of the world these are typical challenges and our students, faculty and staff have handled the situation very well, positvely and we are all supporting each other as a family. The local doctor has been excellent and identified the cause quickly and has provided excellent treatment that has allowed rapid recovery.
I want to take this opportunity to say a few things about our students and your children. They are some of the most creative, passionate and down to earth students that I have ever had the privilege of being teacher to (and parent). They will come through from this learning experience as not just better persons with empathy but leaders who will make a difference in lives of people around the world. They care a lot and will excel in whatever they choose to do.
Kind regards
Kalidas
Day 13: Sugar Cane
This morning we went to see a community where sugar cane is grown and made into panela, a delicious unrefined form of sugar. We saw the sugar cane fields and the building where the process the sugar cane.
The community greeted us with music!
Those of us who are not sick are in this group photo:
In the cane fields:
More hands-on learnage. They replant the stalks of sugar cane and the new sprouts come out from the stalks.
The facilities where they process the sugar cane:
Jay using the old style processer, the one they used before building the state-of-the-art facility.
Day 12: Oro Verde Cooperative Tour
Yesterday we got a tour of the Oro Verde Coop center where they have offices and taste test the coffee. We also went to the warehouse where they dry and store their coffee beans. Man was it hot yesterday! The sick people (a lot of us) picked a good day to stay home and rest.
The conference room at Oro Verde. L to R: Sara S., Sara G., Hannah, Shelby, one of the Ingenieros, Matt, Sami, Chris.
Nelly and Alison D. looking very excited about the coffee. Tasting the coffee is something that requires professional training. Only a few a certified to do it. It was interesting but by the time we got into the tasting room, we were hot and tired. The coffee was good!
The drying and storage facility:
A smaller group of us went out for pizza last night. Two nights in a row for me! I wanted to stay away from the sick eco-center for another night. I had a lot of fun getting to know these girls. It has been hard to get to know everyone since we live in separate facilities, some of us at Frederiques house and some at the eco-center. The eco-center group was staying at hotels last week until the center was ready. I feel like it kindof split the group in half. Im glad we are all on site now. L to R: Lauren, Andi, Me, Charlotte, Hannah.
More Day 11 Pictures!
At the end of the day, a large group of us walked up to the mirador (lookout spot) and got beer and pizza! It was so much fun!
The view from the mirador. This is Nelly, Sami, and Liz R.
Alison D. and Corey sitting atop the mirador. This giant cross marks the spot.
Drinks at the Mirador restaurant. L to R: Jazmine, Sami, Liz R., Nelly, Corey, Liz B., Alison D., Jill, Julia, and Prof Shetty.
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Salute to Hammocks!
The hammocks here at the eco-center have been so wonderfully awesome. This is a picture of Ariel, Laura, Caitlin, and Ally the first day the hammocks were installed, the first week(ish). I have spent many hours in these hammocks enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lamas (and at night, the lights of Tarapoto). I spent this morning in the orange one (my favorite) because I finished my final project yesterday afternoon. After I am done using this computer, I plan to go right back to the hammock and get some more time in before I go back to my little Berkeley apartment.
On going home: I am definitely ready! I have been in Peru 5 weeks and I miss my friends and family and California. I am looking forward to an exciting semester at UC Berkeley (except for my 8am biology class, ugh!).
Days 16-20: Homestays!!!
We got back from the homestays last night- I had such a wonderful time and as far as I can tell, so did everybody else. I will post some pictures and stories now and some more tomorrow and Sunday. We have until Sunday night to work on our final projects. We depart for Lima on the 21st and some of us will go home and some of us will continue our travels, including Machu Picchu!
For the homestays, we split into three groups, visiting three separate communities near Lamas, Peru. The community I visited is called Chirapa. We were greeting with an indigenous festival upon arrival which included lots of dancing, funny costumes, and a pinata type thing on top of a wooden pole. They chopped down the wooden pole and the kids went running for the candy and goods. It was a wonderful greeting. We were truly welcomed into the communities. After the five days, it felt like home.
I uploaded a video onto this computer- it took FOREVER! And...its not working so I will have to post the video when I return home.
Here are some pictures from my favorite day in which we visited a small town near Chirapa and then swam in the river and soaked up the Peruvian sun (some of us got a little burnt but it will be nice to have a little tan this winter!).
Pretending we are part of the fish statue! L to R: Me, Lena, Lauren, Jess, Hannah, Catie, Tracy, Shari (in front)
L to R: Meagan, Tracy, Catie, Lena, Hannah, Me, and Jess
Here is the whole group of us right before we departed. We were sad to say goodbye to our new family and community.
Homestays!
Hello Readers! We are departing to the homestays today in which we will be staying in homes in small communities. We will be staying until Thursday and there will be no blog activity from me during this time. It is going to be an exciting program filled with weaving, farming, fishing, futbol (soccer) and indigenous music. Please send us all your best wishes as we enter this very exciting part of the program. It will be challenging but also very rewarding to learn about another way of life.
Day 15: Another Day Off! Whoohoo!
Yesterday was very relaxing. A small group of us went to Tarapoto and had lunch and delicious ice cream. Here is a picture of Charlotte, Jill, and Hannah being silly with the alien manikins in Tarapoto.
Day 14: Cacao Groves
Unfortunately I was sick on this day and stayed at home and slept while everyone went on a bumpy 1.5 hour van ride to the cacao groves to learn about growing and processing cacao. As a lover of chocolate, I am sorely disappointed that I missed this day. I am feeling much better now.
I knew I would be sick in visiting a third world country and my expectations were and continue to be fulfilled. I had dysentery my first week here (traveling solo, not with the program) and now I seem to have stomach/intestinal discomfort every few days. Not too bad. I will get checked for any unwelcome bacteria/parasites when I get back to the states. The UC Berkeley health clinic is awesome.
Update from your junior instructor
Dear Living Routes Peru 08 families and friends,
My two senior colleagues have given the update on everyone´s health far better than I could. So I would just like to give a quick update on our activities. Today we went to the organic sugar cane fields of Huapo, where we were welcomed with music and samples of organic sugar, or panela, by the cooperative´s committee of cane growers. We received detailed explanations of the process of organic cane growing and processing, and toured the new panela production plant. In the afternoon I gave a lecture on Fair Trade that I hope placed the cooperative and its efforts into global context.
Tomorrow we are heading out to the cacao fields of Pinto Recodo, where we will learn the process of growing and processing cacao. After our Saturday off, we will head out to our community stays of five days. As I said before, I am very impressed with everyone´s spirit and desire to learn. Those of us who have been ill are recovering quickly, and I expect our stays in the communities will be a profound and joyful learning experience.
Best,
Noah
Update from Instructors
Dear families and friends of Peru 08 Living Routes course:
We would like to bring you up to date on the health of those students (and myself) who came down with a tropical parasites infestation. First of all I am extremely happy to report that everyone is up and about. No one is vomiting or having diarrhea any longer. In this afternoon's lecture by Noah Enelow, only three students did not participate out of 35. Julia and Jill were swinging in thie hammocks in the balcony of the upper house, needing still to take it easy, although they are no longer vomiting or having diarrhea or any pain, while Chris was sleeping but not sick.
The doctor who has been attending everyone since day before yesterday in the evening is the coop's manager's own doctor. His name is Dr. Edwin Eduardo Cuba Fernandez. He is the assistant doctor for the State of San Martin Ministry of Health and is also the director of a polyclinic in the city of Tarapoto. He came repeatedly and most amazingly spent from 1 AM to 5 AM this morning with students and then returned at 6 AM to remove an IV from Jessica. He returned at 10 AM with medicines after having made stool tests of everyone and giving each person the appropirate medicine according to the type of tropical amoeba she had.
Tropical amoebas can dehydrate a person rapidly and weaken her. In the tropics, one extremely effective therapeutic response widely used is an IV with vitamins, rehydrating agents and mild pain relievers. After about two to three hours on such an IV the patient is almost fully recovered. I also want to assure everyone that the needles used are all disposable ones. I was there in person to attest to this. This therapy is followed up by anti parasitic medicine in the form of pills, as well as drinking electrolytes.
On this morning's visit I received a call from Dr. Edmundo Anzola from the US organization International Scholastic Traveler SOS. A parent of one of the students had him call me. He was therefore able to have a lengthy conversation with Dr. Cuba who described in medical detail the therapies he was using. Dr. Anzola approved of Dr. Cuba's decisions.
Should any parent want to speak in person with Dr. Edmundo Anzola, they could call International SOS in Philadelphia at: 1 215 942 8226.
Dr. Cuba has identified the source of contamination to the 5 gallon bottled water cans the coop was purchasing for the course. The coop is now boiling all the water used by the students, faculty and staff.
We thank you for your patience and forbearance and we are happy to report that everything ont he health front is well in hand.
The buildings are functional and whatever work remains to be done is non essential and will be carried out after the students' departure.
I now pass the pen to my colleague Kalidas Shetty.
Warm Regards
Frederique
Dear Parents,
Frederique has provided the update on the health challenges from which we are fast recovering. Having travelled to many parts of the world these are typical challenges and our students, faculty and staff have handled the situation very well, positvely and we are all supporting each other as a family. The local doctor has been excellent and identified the cause quickly and has provided excellent treatment that has allowed rapid recovery.
I want to take this opportunity to say a few things about our students and your children. They are some of the most creative, passionate and down to earth students that I have ever had the privilege of being teacher to (and parent). They will come through from this learning experience as not just better persons with empathy but leaders who will make a difference in lives of people around the world. They care a lot and will excel in whatever they choose to do.
Kind regards
Kalidas
Day 13: Sugar Cane
This morning we went to see a community where sugar cane is grown and made into panela, a delicious unrefined form of sugar. We saw the sugar cane fields and the building where the process the sugar cane.
The community greeted us with music!
Those of us who are not sick are in this group photo:
In the cane fields:
More hands-on learnage. They replant the stalks of sugar cane and the new sprouts come out from the stalks.
The facilities where they process the sugar cane:
Jay using the old style processer, the one they used before building the state-of-the-art facility.
Day 12: Oro Verde Cooperative Tour
Yesterday we got a tour of the Oro Verde Coop center where they have offices and taste test the coffee. We also went to the warehouse where they dry and store their coffee beans. Man was it hot yesterday! The sick people (a lot of us) picked a good day to stay home and rest.
The conference room at Oro Verde. L to R: Sara S., Sara G., Hannah, Shelby, one of the Ingenieros, Matt, Sami, Chris.
Nelly and Alison D. looking very excited about the coffee. Tasting the coffee is something that requires professional training. Only a few a certified to do it. It was interesting but by the time we got into the tasting room, we were hot and tired. The coffee was good!
The drying and storage facility:
A smaller group of us went out for pizza last night. Two nights in a row for me! I wanted to stay away from the sick eco-center for another night. I had a lot of fun getting to know these girls. It has been hard to get to know everyone since we live in separate facilities, some of us at Frederiques house and some at the eco-center. The eco-center group was staying at hotels last week until the center was ready. I feel like it kindof split the group in half. Im glad we are all on site now. L to R: Lauren, Andi, Me, Charlotte, Hannah.
More Day 11 Pictures!
At the end of the day, a large group of us walked up to the mirador (lookout spot) and got beer and pizza! It was so much fun!
The view from the mirador. This is Nelly, Sami, and Liz R.
Alison D. and Corey sitting atop the mirador. This giant cross marks the spot.
Drinks at the Mirador restaurant. L to R: Jazmine, Sami, Liz R., Nelly, Corey, Liz B., Alison D., Jill, Julia, and Prof Shetty.
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