Day Eight: Last Day at the Casa

All the planning, all the hard work finally paid off. Today was our last day at the Casa. Needless to say it was hard to leave and say goodbye. On our final day we were able to complete the project we started on the first day. The dining room was completely transformed, it looked remarkable and the smile on Raquel’s face made the room complete.

Aside from the painting, Maddie, Emily, and I went to the market with one of the mothers. The market consisted of many different stalls selling fresh vegetables, fruits, and various assortments of grains. The hustle and bustle of the streets was an exquisite site. The interaction between the customer and the vendor was unlike anything I had ever seen before; it seemed a lot more personal and friendly.

After the market, Maddie, Raise, and I helped out in the kitchen. Even through the language barriers, at least for me, I had a fun time. The women have finally opened up a little and are extremely gregarious; always laughing and making others laugh. The work in the kitchen required chopping, washing, or peeling the vegetables. Basically we helped out any which way we could. As much fun as it was, our time in the kitchen did not last very long. Our attention was needed in the dining room.

At one point we were all helping out in the dining room, including Raquel’s husband Sergio. When the painting was coming to its final stages and not as many people were required I snuck away to the nursery to see the little ones for the last time.

The children in the nursery range from newborns to about three years old. All of them are extraordinary and unbelievably adorable. Their innocence touches your heart. With all the chaos of the day, it is easy to forget what these women have been through. The fact of the matter is that at such a young age these women have experienced more harsh times than some of us ever will in our entire lifetime. The women of Casa de Mantay are children themselves. The youngest girl there is thirteen with a 1 ½ year old son. It does not matter where you grow up; at that age it is difficult for anyone to raise a child. The women are stripped of their childhood and forced to grow up faster in order to provide a brighter future for their children.

So on my last day at the casa I finally understood what this experience was about. For me, helping out at Casa de Mantay was an amazing opportunity to give back, an experience of a lifetime and a time to gain innumerable knowledge about another culture. I never realized that I would be the one getting a valuable gift in return.

Therefore, on my last day sitting here over looking Cuzco I knew my life had changed. This is it, this is life. It is happening at this very moment. Life is not about waiting or struggling for that life changing opportunity, one that supposedly will make life better and actually worth living. Life is constantly moving along, for better or for worse there no sense in abandoning it. The mother’s of the Casa taught me just this. So whether they know it or not these women are an inspiration to everyone around the world. From the struggle of daily challenges to life altering circumstances the women of Casa de Mantay remind you that it is this exact love of life, which is easily forgettable, that makes it all worth the while.

-Priya

Today was the day all of our efforts came together at the casa. We all worked hard to complete the dining room and as usual I spent hours in the nursery. It was so hard to say goodbye to all the mothers and the children and although there was a heavy language barrier our help demonstrated a common understanding of how much we care about them.

It was amazing how our efforts to help improve different aspects of the casa as well as lending a helping hand led so quickly to many trusting friendships. It seemed as though we were actually a part of the casa and not just there to offer a few days of help.

Looking back at the days, it still feels unreal that we had a chance to have this unforgettable experience. Not only did we build friendships with the people of the casa, but also with one another. This was a great opportunity to work with Bryant students that I would otherwise not have the chance to get to know. We are all walking away with several new friends and a new appreciation of all that we have and all that we are capable to give.

- Megha

Day Seven: Back to Work

After a nice day off yesterday, it was time to return to the casa to work full throttle. As usual, I was the last out of bed, but before I knew it I was at the casa working hard with my group members. When splitting for groups, I chose to work in the kitchen with Megha. Before we could cook anything, we had to buy the food! Megha and I, along with one of the mothers, went down to the market to buy food for today´s lunch. The market was amazing! Everything was outdoors and there was just food everywhere. After getting what we needed, we lugged the food back to the casa. This was one of many points during this trip where I came to realize the efforts that these mothers have to put forth. As I was carrying a heavy bag of food back to the casa, I couldn´t help but think of the people in the states who can barely carry groceries to their cars. Upon returning to the casa, we got right to work and started to prep for the lunch. This consisted of picking basil leaves off their branches, taking stems off the fresh spinach, and grating three blocks of cheese! The lunch was spaghetti with pesto sauce. It was a bit salty, but overall it was not bad.

After lunch, I took a nap for about 10 minutes (it was a nice break). When I woke up, I was back to work with many of the other group members. We were finally adding color to the dining room that we had planned to paint! Everyone was hard at work, and we were all working together in order to keep up with the precise measurements, and touch ups. Before I knew it, it was time to go.

When we returned to our hostel, I realized that our spa appointment was in fifteen minutes. Yes, SPA APPOINTMENT! Well this was some treat! We all got awesome massages for a more than reasonable price. It was quite an experience. Upon returning to the hostel, I took a nice shower, and I still smell like the oil they used. I am ready to bond with my group members on a night out on the town of Cusco. More so, I am ready to give it all I’ve got at our last day at the casa tomorrow.

-Ronnie

Day Six: Riot Day

Today, we got the day off. They city was shut down because the Peruvians were rioting. Apparently, riots are very common in Peru and also are different than in the US. Here, streets and shops are closed in advance and neither the police nor government takes action unless it becomes necessary.

Usually, cars and busses have an extremely hard time getting around the city, so the bus company providing our transportation for the trip decided that they would not be taking us to the Casa today. Waking up around 11:30 AM, I could hear people in the streets and drums banging. We weren’t sure what to expect at first, but it was interesting. What could be more of a cultural experience?

Good thing we planned ahead. Using the food we purchased at the market last night, half of the group cooked us a simple spaghetti lunch in small (rather tiny) kitchen, here at the hostel around 2 PM.

This afternoon the group ventured out when the riots died down. We tried going to an Incan museum but it was still closed. Instead, we went to an artisan market that was about a 20 minute walk from the hostel. We’re all getting pretty good at bargaining down prices!
Dinner was amazing. A cook came to the hostel prepared us “Causa a la Limena”. It was delicious meal for a surprisingly reasonable price. It’s a typical Peruvian potato based meal with chicken and avocado with mushrooms and bacon skewers on the side.

Tomorrow, it’s back to the Casa!

-Kathryn

Day Five: More of the Casa

Today was the second day at the Casa. We were dropped off at the bottom of what felt like a mountain and by the time we reached the top we were all the more happy to be there. We were greeted once again by an enthusiastic group of children and were put straight to work. It was great to see that the children recognized us and were happy that we were returning. They were now more familiar with us, as were the mothers. Some people sanded the walls of what will soon be a colourfully striped dining room. Some people took care of what seemed like an ever increasing number of infants with more nasal fluid than humanly possible. And some peeled beans in the kitchen for what felt like hours.

I was in the sanding/priming group for awhile. Everyone was happy and joking though all of us were exhausted from late nights and the altitude. We spent the morning sanding and then after a short snack break of mandarin oranges and bread that we bought on the way we began priming. We found it necessary to rip off pieces of tarp and tie them around our heads like ¨pilgrims¨ or ¨the Pope¨ (depending on the person) to avoid getting paint in our hair. It happened anyway. About a half hour into painting the ceiling I realized that I, because of my lack of height, was struggling more than others so I found someone who wanted to switch. I made my way to the nursery to relieve those that had been christened too many times by numerous bodily fluids.

I was surprised by the serious lack of toys in the nursery. There are so few that each kid is allowed only one at a time, which is good for the teaching of sharing, but a stark contrast to the room full of toys that my three year old sister protects with her life. I was surprised by the fact that they don’t have diapers, a fact that was never fully explained to me, it was either a cultural thing or a monetary issue, either way I had to mop up multiple accidents as a result. I really didn’t mind though, I was floored by the relationships between the kids, sure there was some biting or hitting, but no unnecessary crying or screaming, and when the ¨clean up song¨ began before meals they all picked up the toys that they were using and chanted ¨we want food¨. I loved it, and proceeded to spend my whole day there.

A group of five went to buy the Casa a refrigerator, a hand mixer, a stereo, and paint for the bathroom and dining room. We didn’t leave until seven tonight because Raquel informed us that there was going to be a riot and the bus company wouldn’t drive us the next day. So we went to the grocery store and prepared to stay in the hostel for the whole day. This could be interesting.

-Alyssa

As for the group that continued to prime the walls and ceiling, we made great progress, leaving the night with two coats covering the entire room. Over the next few days we will continue to paint white and then on top of that, different colors. As the night was coming to an end, I continued to clean and dry all of the brushes and rollers that we had been using throughout the day. One of the children, Mirabel, found me out back near the sinks doing so, she decided to come and help me. Mirabel took no time getting dirty as she basically climbed into the sink and began following my lead and helping me clean. It was a great experience to be able to bond with her at that moment. Kathryn, who went to get the refrigerator, ended up bringing back a little gift from a store and let me give it to Mirabel, she was so happy and ran to show her mother immediately. She ran back into the room where we were working and jumped on my back giving me a huge hug. This was a great ending to a day of hard work.

After leaving the Casa we left for a supermarket to stock up on food, as there are supposed to be riots throughout the city tomorrow and we will be unable to visit the Casa. The supermarket was a fun time, and we all enjoyed picking out new foods to try new things. The day was a great success and everyone is ready for bed.

-Todd

Day Four: First Day at the Casa!!

Today was our first day at the Casa and by far the best yet. Raquel, the woman who started the casa, began by giving us a tour and then explaining the situation of the women in Peru. The women who live there are brought up expecting to be raped and knowing that laws against this exist but are not enforced in this country. The fact that these women are born into such difficult situations and can actually function and turn their lives around is truly amazing. We all sat in awe as Raquel explained the stories of many of the girls in the casa. We were speechless, shocked and saddened when hearing about the horrors some of these girls had experienced in their lives before the casa. It definitely made us realize exactly why were came here and motivated us to get to work at the casa. Most mothers that enter into the casa have zero self worth and are in much need of TLC.

Our work today consisted of helping to make lunch for 50 people, including ourselves, sanding a ceiling in preparation for painting tomorrow, and also helping watch the kids and infants in the nursery. We cooked a traditional Peruvian meal of ceviche, cancha, and two types of potatoes. It was interesting to have fish that was cooked only by the chemicals in limes. Cancha was a salty dried corn that tasted just like popcorn and everyone agreed that they could get used to snacking on them. We also got to play with 15 of the 27 children that reside at the casa. They were so welcoming and excited to jump all over us at any chance. We brought half of the donation suitcases which included clothes, toys, school supplies, and some dress up clothes. The best moment of the day by far was when we told the kids that we brought some new toys for them. The children were so happy they could barely contain themselves as we unpacked some basic toys such as a Frisbee and a couple puzzles. The children couldn’t stop smiling as we played with simple action figures and a puzzle. We couldn’t stop smiling either. The feeling of love and caring encompassed the casa today. We felt so lucky to bring such happiness to these kids whose lives aren’t always so lucky. They went from toy to toy in minutes but the kids really just enjoyed when we picked them up or threw them around.

It was really sad leaving today, the children tried to follow us out the gate and were disappointed to see us go. We are all so attached to them after only one day. The mothers are not as easy to talk to because their Spanish is somewhat faster and they are introverted, which Rachel attributed to the circumstances they have persevered through. We are all so excited to return tomorrow although it is going to be exponentially more laborious than today.

-Kevin and Maddie

Day Three: Machu Picchu

El Dia De Machu Pichu: Part 1

Today we started our day very early to begin our excursion of Machu Picchu. When leaving the ¨Kuychi¨¨ room (designated men’s dorm room at our hostel in Cusco) after I woke up, Kevin and I observed the city of Cusco in darkness while drinking tea. While eating breakfast, we marvelled how the city became illuminated with light as the sun began to rise over the mountains. As everyone began to come down and join us for breakfast, it was clear that we were all going to have an incredible day.

After breakfast, we rode a bus to the city of Poroy (a neighbouring city of Cusco) where we boarded a three and a half hour train to the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu resides (see photos of the gorgeous scenery along the way above). The train ride was long, however we had a great time by entertaining ourselves with each other. While some people chose to sleep for the train ride, others such as Kathryn and I enjoyed eating local delicacies which we obtained from local vendors at various train stops along the way. When we arrived at the base of the mountain, we were all extremely excited for what the day had to offer us. At this time, we had no idea of the life changing experience that we would soon experience with our exploration of the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.

-Alex


Machu Picchu: Part 2

Although our group boarded the first of “three legs” to Machu Picchu at 6:15 this morning, we still knew we’d appreciate what we were about to see. After taking a bus ride (leg #1) with our amigo Walter, we arrived at the PeruRail train station. Of course we were a little groggy, but we boarded the train (#2 leg) at 7:00am and headed to Aguas Calientes, which is at the based on Machu Picchu.

As the train moved on, the reality of Machu Picchu began to sink in for us. For the most part, we travelled with a river on one side of us and mountains surrounded us. The train made a couple of stops along the way and I shouldn’t have been surprised when there were vendors selling items such as corn and freshly picked flowers to all the passengers. A few people tried the corn (which had a slice of cheese on top) and it only cost them 3 soles ($1)! At a later stop, Priya and Megha bought a bouquet of flowers for only 4 soles ($1.50)- it made the vendor extremely happy!

Along the whole 3 ½ train ride, our group bonded- telling stories and discussing the Spanish we either knew from school or were learning on the trip. For me, re-familiarizing myself with the Spanish I had been taught and applying it in Peru has really helped me comprehend and appreciate this language and culture.

After our train ride, we boarded the 3rd leg of our journey- a bus ride up to Machu Picchu! There, we met our amazing tour guide Tito (see below) who quickly learned of our group’s relaxed style of taking tours (what can I say- we love taking pictures!!!)

Once we entered Machu Picchu, its beauty finally began to sink in. I don´t want to sound boring or historical, but let me give you a brief overview of what Tito told us about Machu Picchu:

In the 1400s, Machu Picchu began as a safe haven for elite Incas from predators who might want to conquer their land. Located over 8,000 feet above sea level, the Incas had the challenging task of creating their home on the peak of a mountain. Machu Picchu is literally a village carved into the top of a mountain, surrounded by many other uninhabited mountains (some that even reach into the clouds!) The Inca trail also surrounds Machu Picchu and it is actually how the Incas found this unoccupied land.

Around the 1530s, it is believed that Machu Picchu was abandoned during Incan civil warfare. For four centuries, Machu Picchu remained untouched and the vegetation became extremely overgrown. It wasn´t until 1911, when an American professor named Hiram Bingham, rediscovered the area of Machu Picchu beneath the grass and trees that covered it. Since then, Machu Picchu has been visited by many tourists- now seeing over one million visitors a year. It is also considered one of the seven manmade wonders of the world.

Alright- now for our group´s experience. Personally, I was freaked out by the layout of Machu Picchu- with every corner we took, I was looking over an edge that dropped hundreds of feet down!

On our tour with Tito, we learned a lot about the history of Machu Picchu but more importantly we were also seeing some amazing sights. We ended up visiting the Incan king´s bedroom, the Temple of the Condor, the main square and many other tiny rooms and temples. Along the way, we took MANY pictures and they probably do Machu Picchu more justice than this blog entry ever could:

Over the course of the tour, we also bonded with Tito and exchanged English and Spanish phrases. Tito told us more about Pachu Mama and Pacha Wawa (Peruvian folklore which pertains to the mysterious ¨Land Baby¨). At the end of the tour, we got to spend some time with a mama and baby llama! Adorable!!

After the tour, we grabbed a bite to eat at an Incan restaurant then we boarded the train back to Cuzco. Let´s just say that our 3 ½ hour ride turned into 5 hours, and we spent a majority of our time in the dark. It may seem as an inconvenience to those reading this blog that we were in darkness, but in actuality it gave us an incredible opportunity to view the stars in the sky. Some of us within our group were able to see numerous shooting stars (especially the record holder Jelly with 4)!

Alright! Well we made it in time to our hostel with enough time to relax and enjoy the incredible scenery provided by our hostel. Now, its time for bed - and Casa de Mantay in the morning.

-Emily

Day Two: Cusco

Wake up call 5.50am. Leave the Hostel by 6.30. Boarding time 7.50 am. These details may seem important to us. But in Latin America the notion of time is a little different. This morning we ended up leaving the hostel at 6:50 (totally my fault - I left my camera charger and we had to go back to get it!). At that point, most of us were in panic mode, and when we arrived at the airport at 7:20 we were frantic to get our luggage checked and our travel taxes paid. Most of us didn't think we'd make the flight, since we never would have in the same situation in the U.S. But we were shocked to find ourselves boarding (with other people!)10 minutes before take-off. This was our first lesson in "Peruvian time".

We arrived in Cusco at 9.30 am. The city is 11,000 feet above sea level, which means that altitude sickness is an issue. The first signs of sickness were felt by some members of the group as soon as we landed, and most of us have felt lightheaded, breathless, or tired at some point since then. But we have found out that a way to prevent illness is to drink tea made from cocaine leaves, which doesn't have the same effect as the drug but does act as a blood thinner, and therefore helps with circulation at high altitdes.

We were greeted by native performers at the airport, who sung and danced in welcome. We made our way to our Hostel with our guide Walter, and as soon as we left the airport we noticed the differences between Lima and Cusco. Some of the obvious differences were the population, the houses, and the roads, but we also noticed that there were a lot more native, quechua-speaking Peruvians in Cusco. We all felt extremely comfortable and enthused about being closer to our ultimate goal of getting to the Casa Mantay to help the women and the children. After climbing what felt like a million stairs we settled in the Home Sweet Home Hostel. The place is small and cozy, and has an absolutely amazing view of the city becuase it's nestled halfway up a huge hill (second photo below).

After settling in, we visited the Triunfo Cathedral, the main cathedral of the city. It was built in the 17th century and has many shrines that are adorned with gold and silver and visited by local catholics daily.

We then proceeded to visit an Inca temple that was taken over by the Spaniards and restructured into a cathedral. We also were able to visit Saxsaywaman, a section of Incan ruins which were high up in the mountains. We all felt that this was just a preview of Machu Pichu, which we'll be visiting tomorrow. We're all excited to have the chance to experience one of the seven ancient wonders of the world! Thus far we have also taken advantage of some Peruvian cuisine, which we all seem to have enjoyed a great deal.

After discussing our trip so far, we are all shocked about how much we've done in the two days that we have been here. It feels like it's been much, much longer, and the best part is that we still have yet to get to the Casa!

-Katie

Day One: Lima

We made it!!! After our hard work planning and organizing, we have finally arrived in Peru. Our flight left JFK airport at 11.30 pm on the 21st of May. We arrived in the Peruvian capital of Lima the following morning at 6 am. Although the flight was exhausting, we were determined not to let our fatigue get the best of us.

Our 10 day trip started off with a little bit of tourism. How could we pass up such once in a lifetime opportunities as Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu tours?? We couldn't!!

On our first day in Peru, and our only day in Lima, we started off with a quick breakfast and then began our guided tour around this beautiful city. Our first visit was the Larco museum (see photo below), a private museum that has a large assortment of pottery, paintings, and jewelry. We were impressed to see how many pieces they had, and not surprised that many of them were influenced by the Incas. The Incas typically used their pottery as ceremonial, not functional, vessels. The Incan pottery depicted day-to-day life, allowing archaeologists and other scholars to use it to hypothesize about what Incan life was like. The day-to-day depictions were very thorough; the most interesting exhibit was of "erotic" pottery that demonstrated the importance of sexuality in Incan culture.

Our second stop on the tour was the Saint Francis Monastery (see the courtyard below). It was interesting to see the different architecture and decorations that were influenced by the religion and culture of the Spanish conquistadors . We also had the chance to pass by the presidential palace, which is in the historical part of the city and faces a large and lively central square, and a few of us were able to take a quick photo with the presidentail guards. Later in the afternoon, we explored one of the native Indian markets and were really able to see local artisams with their crafts.

A happy surprise during the trip has been the very comfy and welcoming accomodations. Because it is a community service trip, we are trying to lower our expenses by staying in Hostels, but have been fortunate enough to have comfortable beds, warm showers, and very friendly neighbors. Our hostel has a beautiful view of the pacific ocean (see below), and we've met other young people from different countries such as Australia, England and many others who have decided to travel across South America.

Being a small group makes it easier to get to know one another even better and creates a unique sort of intimacy. After travelling for so long and walking through a four hour tour, we are all extremely tired. But we all feel like sleeping is not a priority on the trip because we want to take advantage of all the opportunities we can in the one day that we have in Lima. This means a hot meal, the good company of our old and new friends, and a toast to Peru!

-Raisa

Here's the Deal

During our trip, we'll be updating the blog daily (technology permitting!!) with stories and highlights of the day's activities. Each trip member will be responsible for one day's blog. Enjoy!!!

Four Days to Go!

The past few months have seen trials and tribulations for us all, but we are finally just days away from our departure. This has already been an increadible learning experience for us all, and we are all thrilled to take the next steps of our journey, which we're sure will be more informative, educational, and transformative than we can imagine.

We have to thank everyone who has lent us a helping hand throughout the long and adventurous process of preparing for our trip, including countless faculty and staff at Bryant (our advisors Patty Gomez and Tony Houston, Rich Hurley, Toby Simon, Sandra Enos, and many, many more, as well as our the International Business and Modern Languages departments), our family and friends, and the numerous local businesses and organizations that have offered valuable assistance through both monetary and merchandise donations: The Cheesecake Factory in Providence, Faial Restaurant and Lounge in Smithfield, DiCarlos Restaurant in Smithfield, Dunkin Donuts in both Lincoln and Smithfield, Signature Salon in Smithfield, Parente's Restaurant in Smithfield, Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church and the New Life Worship Center, both in Smithfield.

With the help of the above contributors, we were able to meet and exceed our goal of $1200 fundraised, and will be bringing a $1000 donation to the casa, along with 14 suitcases of material donations. Thank you again to everyone who helped make this possible!

As we progress to the next stage of this adventure, we'll be updating our blog throughout the trip. Stay tuned to learn how it goes!

More Fundraising Updates...

On May 1st, we sat outside the Shaw's grocery store in North Providence, enjoying the weather and collecting donations. We were able to raise a total of about $60. Thanks to everyone who donated!