ICEP Peru Trip Report 2017

Tuesday, June 27th It was arrival day! The Chimney Corners sign barn was ready with a welcome poster and name tags, while the staff eagerly awaited the arrival of the group. One by one the families arrived with the participants and they all met each other and their trip leaders. There was a short meeting with the TSP staff to clarify the trip and then it was time to say goodbye. After a short 20 minute walk to Camp Becket, the group arrived and began to get to know each other through some fun games and activities. Right before dinner the group was scheduled to do a swim test in Rudd Pond. However, an exciting storm rolled through, so plans changed. Dinner was the Tuesday Becket cookout! It was spent eating in Iroquois lodge watching the storm outside. The evening consisted of settling into our cabin and getting to know our new ICEP Peru friends before our first night’s sleep.

Cabin Chat: How do you hope to grow from this experience?

Wednesday, June 28th The group woke up with excitement for their first full day of the program. There was a lot to do for the day and everyone headed down to the Becket dining hall for breakfast. After swim tests and health checks, the group participated in some leadership building activities. They also learnt all about the behaviour interaction styles leadership model they would be working with throughout the trip. There was a lot to talk about before our departure. The rest of the day consisted of some cultural lessons including an Alpha/Beta activity with the ICEP Japan group. After dinner the group took turns in Gibson Hall showing their presentations they had prepared before coming. They were all very interesting and a lot of work had gone into them. It was then time to have cabin chat and then head to our rooms for some sleep.

Cabin Chat: Who is your role model and why?

Thursday, June 29th Everyone woke up eagerly awaiting the departure for the airport. The morning was spent packing and relaxing for our journey. We carried our bags to Moose Field to meet the bus, and then we drove to Chimney Corners to pick up the ICEP Uruguay group. We all then shared the 4 hour journey to John. F. Kennedy Airport, and it was good for a few to catch up with old camp friends they would not normally see this summer. Once we arrived at the airport, all 17 of us checked in with no drama and arrived at the gate…7 hours early. We had plenty of time to relax, eat airport food, and play Uno. Just before boarding we managed to find a nice quiet corner for cabin chat. With aircraft taxying past the windows, it was definitely a different setting to one’s typical cabin chat. It was then time to settle in for the 8 hour flight. Some managed to get a solid few hours of sleep, while others spent time watching in-flight movies and TV shows.

Cabin Chat: What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

Friday, June 30th We arrived! The flight was delayed by an hour, but that was okay; we were ready to disembark the plane and enter Peru. Customs went very smoothly and we met Richard, one of the Peru YMCA hosts, at the terminal. We then boarded the bus and made out way to our new home base for the next month. After so much traveling, it was time for a quick breakfast and time to settle into our bunks for naps and showers. Later in the afternoon we sat in a conference room for a really interesting presentation and welcome lunch. We all had delicious soup and a classic Peruvian chicken and rice meal. The group was then ready to see the area and went for a walk in the local suburbs before a last minute grocery shop for snacks and supplies. It was a quiet day to catch up on sleep before our evening activity of salsa dancing. Our instructor was great and had everyone in the group moving back and forth in various dances. It was very new for most of us and definitely a good work out!

Cabin Chat: What is one thing about childhood you do not want to lose?

Saturday, July 1st We woke to the sound of our leaders’ alarms playing soft music. Not a minute later, loud Latin music practically broke down the door between the girls’ room and the group exercise class. We made our way upstairs, still groggy from our ~18-hour travel day. We enjoyed cheese and ham sandwiches on white bread/toast (All meals are very bland in color…but not in taste!). We loaded our bags onto the bus and off we went to Azpitia for Winter Camp! We watched Jackie Chan (translated into Spanish, of course) along the way. When we arrived, our accommodations were on a beautiful mountainside overlooking a valley. Our open-air common area was made of bamboo, and the roof was draped with bright pink flowers and vines. Richard gave us a tour of the YMCA’s hotel, pool, and restaurant. We had fun squeezing our group into a barrel-shaped sauna before going to lunch, where we ate chicken, pumpkin soup, and seasoned rice. In the afternoon, we started our first service project: moving bags of dirt and squares of grass, and levelling ground. We worked in small groups until we realized it would be more effective to work together in a large group and make a chain of sorts. Once finished, we helped Jacob build un fuego. It became clear when he returned in a traditional Peruvian hat and poncho we were not in Becket anymore, but the craziness and love he led the campfire with reminded us we were still in a place with the same sense of spirit and fun. We laughed and shouted nonsensical words (at times, not sure if what we were saying was in Spanish or made up) and ended by sharing an apology, a compromise/resolution, and a thank you. It was a great day!

Cabin Chat: Sunrise or sunset?

Sunday, July 2nd We opened the doors from our bunkrooms and were again awestruck by the views. After having café con leche (coffee with milk) and potato/scallion sandwiches for breakfast, we were ready for the day! We assembled the squares of grass that we moved the day into a patch-like pattern. We exceeded our hosts’ work expectations, finishing 3 days’ worth of work in 1.5, so they had to find something else for us to do! We ate - very salty - spaghetti for lunch and then did low ropes challenges in the afternoon, including a name “shoot off” game, Danish soccer, and the Mohawk Walk. We designed 2-person pizzas for dinner and then walked back to our lodging for a bonfire. There, we told jokes and spooky stories and roasted marshmallows. We ended the night with the chat question: If you could be anywhere and with anyone in this moment, where and with whom would you be? Judging by the number of people who said here in Peru with this ICEP group, we would say it is going to be an awesome rest of the trip!

Monday, July 3rd While typically we shared the dining hall with a cat and 2 dogs (belonging to the gardener/property manager), we had the place to ourselves in the morning. For breakfast, we had a hardy milk and oatmeal drink and sweet potato sandwiches. Although given options for the morning work, our LOD (Leader Of the Day) decided we should finish what we started. We continued to level ground near where we had arranged the squares of grass the day before. We also cleared brush and trash. With the time we had left, we played futbol (American soccer) before losing our ball in a nearby stream. We had pollo con arroz (chicken with rice) for lunch. We thought we would be sick of this dish by now, but the portion size and quality of cooking makes it our favorite meal STILL! The bus ride back was uneventful. Having not had enough room in our small day bags to pack shower things, we were thrilled to shower when we returned. After another delicious dinner of pollo con arroz and potato puree, we attended our second Latin dance class... this time, learning Bachata y Tango! Also joining us was a group of girls from the YMCA of Boulder Valley in Colorado. The instructor spoke only in Spanish but commanded the room with her charm and talent. She clapped and whistled us into our positions and had us turning and twisting all night. What a challenging but exciting pastime!

Cabin Chat: What is the most beautiful thing in the world?

Tuesday, July 4th We woke up to the sound of our campers singing the National Anthem, with another exciting day ahead of us. Breakfast was eggs, toast and coffee, which set us up for the day’s activities. We prepared for our first orphanage visit where we were going to spend some time hanging out with children with disabilities. On the bus ride, the trip leaders handed out what they called “4th of July Fun”: star-spangled bandanas, beads, bowties, bubbles, and sunglasses to share with the children. Upon arrival, the local children were immediately excited to have our company. They interacted with us and we all made our way down the road to a local sports ground. Once there we watched staff from several orphanages and volunteer organizations play soccer and volleyball. It was a highly rewarding experience for the ICEP group and they had great things to say about the morning’s activities. After lunch the group began the fundraising project; they spent the afternoon making bracelets and necklaces in preparation to raise funds for orphanages in the area. The group felt very proud of what they had done and were definitely looking forward to more opportunities to help where they could. After dinner, with a new load of energy, the group was ready for sports night. With a mix of soccer, basketball and volleyball, the group mixed with another group from Colorado also on an international exchange. It was a good day and after chat, everyone retired for the night to rest for the next day.

Cabin Chat: What is the best gift you have given to someone else?

Wednesday, July 5th The exercise and gym schedule continues to keep us on our toes! We were woken up at 6:00 this morning. We had fresh fruit (apples, bananas, grapes, pineapple), toast, and yogurt for breakfast. We spent the morning learning Peruvian games from Richard and Adriana, a 17-year-old friend of the YMCA who is working with our group. She completed high school and is taking a gap year before moving to Argentina, where she will study Political Science. There was a marble game (for which we needed to knock over army men, played with partners), spinning top/yo-yo hybrid game (played alone), and a token-flipping game (played in groups). Adults passing by stopped to give us advice, children joined in, and teenagers snickered from afar. It was humbling and fun. Then, we were invited to an exhibition day at the private primary/secondary school within the walls of the YMCA. While we did not fully understand their presentation topics, we took a lot away from the experience. Like us, the students dressed up and nervously rehearsed their lines before beginning. For lunch, we had ensalada y pollo con arroz and prepared dances and skits for the afternoon’s visit to the orphanage. Doing obstacle courses and having our hair braided at the orphanage, we felt we were able to connect more with these children than yesterday’s. We posed the question afterwards, “If you go to a Peruvian orphanage and do not have your photo taken amidst a dozen Peruvian orphans, did you even go?” The answer was a resounding yes, because service is about selflessness. After a dinner of chicken pesto, we had a hilarious karaoke night filled with throwback songs.

Cabin Chat: What will your ideal life look like in 20 years?

Thursday, July 6th At first glance, our schedule for Thursday looked quiet and restful: cooking class in the morning, free time in the afternoon, and a movie night after dinner. Wow, were we mistaken! After breakfast, we moved upstairs to the teen room, where we were greeted by Julio y Julio, a couple of the YMCA’s chefs. They taught us how to prepare Maki (Peruvian sushi). We chopped avocados, pepinos (cucumbers), pimientos (red peppers), queso crema (cream cheese), salmon and shrimp. Then we spread rice on dried seaweed and rolled them up! Some people were able to cut theirs into small bite-size pieces. Most filled them very full and needed to eat them like tacos. We finished with sautéed beef, rice and vegetables. Later, we walked to the Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru. Someone (English-speaking, thankfully) gave us a guided tour, and we learned about ancient Peruvian cultures and rulers, burial practices, pottery, and textiles. We saw a model of Machu Picchu and got SO EXCITED we would be seeing it in person, and walked around the home shared by Simon Bolivar and the Martin families. For dinner, we had papas fritas, rice, steak, and vegetables and then watched “Lion.” Our LOD realized after a movie heavy with feeling and thought, our group needed a light chat. So, we laughed listening to each other’s most embarrassing moments.

Cabin Chat: What is your most embarrassing moment?

Friday, July 7th To Independencia we go! After a breakfast of cheese sandwiches and tea, we loaded the bus with all of our bags and snacks. We brought a large package of toilet paper because the bathroom facilities often lack this vital item. A couple of us stayed ‘home’ at the YMCA and caught up on our rest, while the others learned to mix concrete and build walls at a school in rural Independencia. Here, the local children were very interested in our presence. They all came out to ask questions in both English and Spanish and watch the group work. After a hard afternoon, the group went to a giant mall in Lima. It seemed never ending, with a giant outdoor water fountain surrounded by mammoth sized shops which were the size of malls themselves. The group had some free time to explore, and then all sat down at ‘Planet Chicken,’ a popular restaurant, for dinner. It was then time to head back to our accommodation for the night. We each had small mats and shared a large room, sleeping on the floor. After cabin chat, we settled in for the best sleep we could in preparation for another big day of service.

Saturday, July 8th The group had a light breakfast and made their way to the upper area to keep working on the service project. Once again, our campers achieved a lot more than was expected! They began to work on a new wall to create a vegetable garden area for the children who, again, were very excited to watch us. Some of the locals played games with marbles with us before we headed back down to our room for a movie and pizza night! We watched Madagascar and ate snacks before cabin chat and bed.

Sunday, July 9th Waking up to our last day in Independencia, we had much to do! One of the school walls needed some old, faded graffiti cleaned off of it, and our garden wall needed some finishing touches. By lunch time, it was all complete. The group was very proud of their efforts, and the grounds keeper was very pleased as well! After many photos with the host partners and workers who helped teach us, it was time to leave. After bussing back to the Lima YMCA, everyone was ready for their first shower since Friday. Satisfied with the weekend’s work, we settled into the common room for movies and naps.

Monday, July 10th We enjoyed fruit, toast, and yogurt for breakfast. At home, 17 people would require (AT LEAST) 1 cup of coffee per person. In Peru, 17 of us are served 1 small, glass pitcher to share. In the U.S., our ratio is 3 parts coffee to 1 part cream/milk. Their ratio is 3 parts milk to 1 part coffee. We took vans downtown and Richard gave us a history of the main squares, which included old buildings, cathedrals, cinemas, and statues. At noon in front of the President’s house, we watched the changing of the guard. Behind beautifully designed rod iron gates, there was a ceremony with a 30-piece marching band. We continued onto the catacombs, the biggest cemetery in all of Latin America and home to over 75,000 bodies. Some of the vaults are as much as 10 meters deep with bones! Made of bricks, lime, and wood, the catacombs keep the odors away. We had lunch at a food court near the YMCA (a nice break from chicken and rice) and continued onto the orphanage. We completed obstacle courses, danced, and played a passing game with a soccer ball. After a dinner of beets and chicken, we hunkered down for another movie night (to help make sure everyone was well-rested). We ended the evening by answering the cabin chat question, “What is the best advice/life lesson you have ever received?”

Tuesday, July 11th We enjoyed passionfruit and starfruit juices with our scrambled eggs and white toast breakfast. Then we took the bus to the beach at Chorrillos, where we cleaned up trash all morning. The kids were excited to write ICEP PERU in the sand and take their photo, so our host Richard entertained their idea and allowed them some play time. For lunch, you guessed it-- arroz con pollo! In the afternoon, our plans to clean up trash in the parks near the YMCA were foiled, because they were so clean! We made it our prerogative, instead, to beautify some community gardens and sidewalks. The kids made it a competition to see who could collect the most. When they were through, we went to see the release of Spiderman at the cinema. It was in English but had Spanish subtitles, which was fun. After a dinner of chicken, fries, and steamed vegetables, we had a box drum lesson. It was many of the kids’ favorite part of the program so far! We learned different sequences of claps and slaps and felt good about our collective sound… and then our instructor performed a 5 minute solo of all the skills we did not get to/what the box sounds like when played by a seasoned drummer. We were all floored. Maybe if we sleep on our cameras/videos, like osmosis, we will absorb his talents!

Wednesday, July 12th We did a true cultural exchange today! In the morning, after a breakfast of cheese sandwiches, Danny and Richard taught us some traditional games, including variations of jump rope and leap frog. Then Steve taught us a game from New Zealand he called Kiwi. Lastly, after 10+ days in their mother country, Danny and Richard wanted to see what we had learned, so we played Peruvian Jeopardy. In the afternoon, we visited the secondary school’s English classes. In one, they were conducting mock interviews, and the campers were asked to give feedback on fluidity of speech, vocabulary, etc. In another, they were having round-table discussions. In another, the campers participated in a Q&A session, answering questions like, Do you have pets? Do you play sports? In the evening, we bundled up and went on a tour of Miraflores (another district in Lima) on a double-decker bus. At the end of it, we indulged in what we were told were the “best churros in the city,” and we agreed! Full of chocolate, dulce de leche, and vanilla, we rolled back to the Y and answered the chat question, “If you could, what would you change about the world?”

Thursday, July 13th We visited a new orphanage in the morning and were excited to learn the children there are no older than 5 years old. We did a dance/song and performed a skit. Free time consisted of climbing on a jungle gym, jumping on a trampoline, and playing soccer. Some campers were even invited to spoon feed the toddlers. We went back to the Y for lunch, and then we spent the afternoon at the zoo. What caught our eyes the most were the many varieties of monkeys. The evening was spent packing and running errands in preparation for Cusco, and answering the chat question, “What do you admire most about the person to your left?” It was an early-to-bed night, because of our early-to-rise flight!

Friday, July 14th Great news: We got to sleep in today! The group’s flight got changed to a slightly later time, so we only had to wake up at 6 am and not 3:30 am like originally planned. You would think check- in and security would be a hassle with 19 travellers (campers, host partners, and leaders), but it went quite smoothly. Up, up, and away - we were soon on our way to Cusco. Upon arrival, the group stepped off the plane onto the 11,200-foot-high city. The group boarded a bus and headed to our hotel to drop our bags before heading to a late lunch. The rest of the day consisted of acclimating to the elevation by napping, playing card games, walking our laundry down the street to the laundromat, etc. We noticed the difference in elevation, as evidenced by becoming short of breath after only a few steps on level ground, and thankfully no one got sick. After dinner, it was time for cabin chat and an early night in preparation for exploring the next day.

Saturday, July 15th It was another beautiful, sunny morning. The temperatures in Cusco vary greatly, from 32 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The group dressed warmly and had a buffet breakfast. We met our guide for the next 3 days, a man named Jaiko. He spoke passionately and was kind to every person we encountered, which made a real mark on our group. So much so, that our LOD gave him the “compliment of the day” during chat later. Our first stop was at the White Christ. Jaiko taught us about the city’s layout (that of a “puma” or mountain lion). He also pointed out a cathedral at La Plaza de Armas, which the 13 other cathedrals in the city face. We hiked a short distance to some Inca ruins, which stood 12,500 feet high. We had lunch at a restaurant with ceiling-to-floor windows, which was great because it overlooked the entire city. We also visited a museum and learned about the Spanish Inquisition. The group then enjoyed some exploring and shopping. With Machu Picchu just around the corner, you know we all needed alpaca sweaters. The group settled in for a much-needed sleep.

Sunday, July 16th Best. Day. So. Far. This was the group’s consensus at the end of it. It took about an hour to get to our first stop of the day at a ranch. We were overwhelmed with the friendliness and numbers of alpacas and llamas that greeted us. The group spent about 45 minutes feeding them, petting them, and taking selfies. Our next stop was just off of the road, where we photographed the Sacred Valley. Jaiko explained 50% of the country “still worships the mountains” and we could clearly see why. We had done so much by 10:30 that we needed to stop for the best empanadas in town. The traditional savory ones are filled with basil, cheese, onions, and tomatoes, while the sweet ones are filled with bananas, cinnamon, and clove. Needless to say, we never want to eat another one, just to preserve the taste memory of the ones we ate. We had lunch with a Quechua community. We were greeted with men and women playing drums and flutes and throwing white flower petals on our heads. They dressed us in their colourful clothing (flat-top hats, shawls, and skirts for the girls and warm, woollen hats and throws for the boys). Our meal was served in locally-made pottery and included alpaca stir fry, potato/spinach pancakes, steamed vegetables, and more. They also served us tea, which we were strongly encouraged to drink because it helped with digestion. They showed us how to clean dirty llama hair using local flora, and how to ground spikes from cacti and stones to make colourful dyes. As if that was not enough, the group boarded the bus and we made our way to the town of Ollantaytambo. We arrived just in time to enter the ruins and see the sunset. Jaiko explained sunrise and sunset are not the same phenomena they are in the U.S. The true phenomena, observed and loved by Peruvians, is when the sun and moon clear the mountain tops. The train ride to Aguas Calientes, the tourist town just outside of Machu Picchu, took about 2 hours. We enjoyed complimentary drinks and snacks and went straight to bed when we arrived.

Monday, July 17th It was 2:30 am and time to wake up! Today was the day everyone had been looking forward to. The hotel organized a 3 am breakfast for us, so we could walk to the station and stand in line starting at 3:30. The buses do not depart until 5:30, but with between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors a day to Machu Picchu, we did not want to get lost in the crowds! Because the night before was so late, we had a 4 am chat on the sidewalk. “Imagine you are driving and there is no one else on the road. You come to a red light. Do you stop, or roll through it?” Before we knew it, the end of the line was well out of sight, extending around the corner and over the hill. At 5:30, it was time to board. We were on the second bus of the morning, quite an amazing achievement according to Jaiko, who leads tours through Machu Picchu 3-6x/week! Within 2 minutes of arriving at the park and walking through the gate, there it was in all of its glory. We posted up on a grassy terrace and waited for the sun to creep over the mountain tops. We did an exercise in mindfulness and sat silently, listening to the different accents of those there with us and imagining the civilization that came before us. As Jaiko toured us around each of the temples, we were greeted by llamas “employed by the government to keep the grass down.” The Incan ideas about astronomy, engineering, and farming, among others, were incredible. Half of the group decided to rest and reflect, while the other half of the group decided to hike to the Sun Gate, a point higher above the mountains and valleys. We had lunch back in Aguas Calientes, which consisted of rosemary chicken and mashed potatoes, before boarding the 2 hour train and then the 2 hour bus. Our LOD read the group well and asked a light chat question: “What food best represents you and why?”

Tuesday, July 18th You know that feeling when the camp director stands up at the end of the meal and announces that tomorrow will be a lazy day/sleep-in? This was how we felt this morning, so thankful to be able to rest after all of our hours of traveling and trekking. The trip leaders did paperwork and the campers played on their new Incas vs. Spanish chess boards. We ate pumpkin/squash soup, trout, and fruit salad for lunch. We then decided to spend the afternoon market-hopping, from one market nearby the hotel, to the San Pedro market, the largest in the city. This one not only had souvenir vendors, but also food vendors with fresh cheeses, chocolates and coffees, meats, vegetables, spices, and the like. We celebrated one of our participant’s birthdays by going out for a pizza dinner. Our hosts bought a cake (on which they thoughtfully but incorrectly wrote, “Happy Sweet 16”) and we shared in some dining hall singing. The night ended with the chat question, “What is your favourite photo and why?” We were all looking forward to getting back to our service roots the next day.

Wednesday, July 19th Along with a high school group visiting from Seattle (people living in Cusco are NO strangers to tourists, as it is what 90% of their economy is based on), we enjoyed bread and jam, fresh fruit, granola and yogurt. With our group continuing to acclimate awesomely to the altitude, we were on our way. Unlike the co-ed orphanages we had visited so far, Wednesday brought a slightly different experience: an all-boy orphanage! Some of us played basketball and volleyball, while the others sat in the grandstands and cheered them on. The boys, mostly between the ages of 10 and 14, jokingly sat down on the court when we could not serve the volleyball time after time. Their sense of comradery with each other and us was wonderful. For lunch, we again had a pumpkin/squash soup and trout. Danny and Richard treated us to cuy, or guinea pig, which we had cut into 15 pieces and shared among the group members. As in the movies, it “tasted like chicken!” We then bussed to the San Juan clinic for service work. The group did administrative tasks and laundry and entertained children with disabilities. We had Bembos burgers for dinner and answered the chat question, “What is the rainbow to your storm?”

Thursday, July 20th Thursday was almost identical to the day before. We visited the orphanage and started to form really meaningful relationships with our non-verbal and wheelchair-dependent friends at the clinic. In thge evening, though, we something different; Danny and Richard took us out for “dinner and a show.” We feasted on a buffet with all different kinds of meats, salads, vegetables, and traditional dishes. Our dessert consisted of a cheesecake with local fruit, chocolate torte, and tres leches (three milks) cake. It was incredible (and, needless to say, we went up for seconds and thirds and fourths). We watched a show of traditional dances, masquerades, and pan flute songs. On our tables were flags of the countries we were from (ours proudly showed the U.S. and New Zealand). Between each set, the MC/vocalist called out to each of us, “Bienvenidos a France! Bienvenidos a Estados Unidos! Bienvenidos a Argentina!” We celebrated our differences and our togetherness and ended the night with the chat question, “Who knows you best?”

Friday, July 21st On our last morning in Cusco, the group was able to finish packing before boarding the bus for the airport. Once on the plane, the group sat mostly together right at the back of the aircraft, taking up more than 3 of the entire rows at the back. After a quick one hour flight, we descended back to sea level to Lima. Once arriving back at the YMCA, we had a quick lunch and then it was time to prepare for homestays. Everyone in the group was excited, nervous, and ready to meet their new families for the weekend and the rest of next week! One by one the families arrived. They eagerly met their new ICEP family member and departed for home. Many host families had activities already planned for that night, while others were ready to head home and settle in for a quiet evening.

Saturday-Sunday, July 22nd-23rd Participants spent the weekend with their homestay families. Some ICEP members relaxed at home with their host families, while others met up with other participants and their host-siblings for shopping trips and circus visits.

Monday, July 24th Some days, we cannot believe 3 weeks have passed, and other days, we FEEL it. We were thrilled not only to come “home” to the YMCA, but to be done with our physical service work. We have only social service work this week, returning to the orphanages which we have already visited. Our host brothers and sisters are joining us, so we have 30 teenagers instead of 15, which is fun and challenging. With rain in the forecast, the orphanage administration set us up to color and converse inside with our friends with disabilities. When it did not rain, we pushed our friends around the courtyard outside in their wheelchairs. After a lunch of potatoes and huancayo sauce, we participated in icebreakers and teambuilding activities all afternoon. We are sad to no longer have evenings and chats together, but it makes meeting up in the mornings and hearing about each of our different experiences even sweeter.

Tuesday, July 25th While the group was in their homestays, the trip leaders enjoyed their own homestay with the YMCA’s COO (and main contact during the year) Paco, his wife, and their 3-year-old daughter. In the morning, the entire group met up and we participated in our 2nd cooking class, where we made a soufflé out of ahi (a spicy Peruvian sauce), potato, and shredded chicken. Our main meal was a crock-pot-style cheese and chicken curry over rice. We made one last grocery store run to purchase snacks we have come to know and love for our families and friends at home. Then, we spent the afternoon at a new orphanage, dedicated to teenage boys with special needs. Half of the group did a dance class, while the other half of the group “basketballed and chilled.” Together, we taught the boys and our host brothers and sisters how to play “WAH,” a game of following commands and not taking ourselves too seriously.

Wednesday, July 26th This was a #LowKeyWednesday. In the morning, we relaxed at the YMCA and visited an Inca Market. We went back to the Y for a lunch of ground beef with raisins and rice and garnished with a grilled banana. Then, instead of going to the orphanage, we spent the afternoon watching the movie Invictus. The movie features Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman and tells the story of Nelson Mandela being elected President of South Africa after the Apartheid. As we learned about the coming together of a country, the trip leaders looked around the room at the coming together of our two countries. The campers and their homestay siblings were sitting with arms around each other, laughing like they do with their nearest and dearest friends, after only days of knowing each other. It was a special moment, before everyone went their separate ways.

Thursday, July 27th After having breakfast with our homestay families on Thursday morning, we visited one final market. Called Polvos Azules Swami, this market was exactly that-- “powder blue” in color from floor to ceiling. The vendors practically stood on top of each other so they would have as much space as possible for their products. They sold everything from electronics to Peruvian futbol jerseys to shoes. Having little to no money left to spend, the campers mostly just explored with their host siblings. We had lunch back at the YMCA and a dessert of alfajor cookies and “queso helado.” This translates directly to “cheese ice cream,” but it was far from that. It looked like cubed cheese but tasted like frozen coconut with a cinnamon seasoning. Delicious! Then we went on a tour of a fort used during the Spanish Inquisition. We saw tanks and bronze statues of generals, as well as chambers that had been used for torture. In quite the transition, from there we bussed to El Parque de Las Aguas, where every hour they put on a light show, project images of Peru on water fountains, and play music. It was an awesome attraction to see at night.

Friday, July 28th We had planned for the homestay week to end today, but this being Peru’s Independence Day, we decided to extend for one more day so everyone could celebrate with their host families. From what we heard, some people went to the parade in Lima (the largest in the country), others went to the Y and helped with activities for the community and youth, and still others celebrated at home with cookouts. Everyone wore their red and white pins (not required but strongly encouraged to be worn the entire month of July); “Feliz 28 julio fiestas patrias!”

Saturday, July 29th The participants packed their bags on Saturday morning. They were given last-minute snacks and souvenirs by their homestay families and were brought back to the YMCA. We had “Chifa” (Chinese) food for lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing with our host siblings. Because it was the day after a national holiday, the Y was closed, so we had the studio outside of our bunk rooms to ourselves. We played on the exercise balls, listened to music, and cuddled in a puddle on the floor. In the evening, Danny and Richard bought Inca Cola and ordered pizzas to the meeting room. We sang karaoke (a fusion of English and Spanish) and taught each other line dances. Then we said goodbye to Danny, who was leaving to host another group like ours, and our host siblings joined us for the final chat: “What was the highlight of your week with your homestay family?” Many of the local teens shared, through tears, what a meaningful experience it had been. Our teens responded by saying they hoped to return the favor someday when the Peruvians visited the States. “Nuestra casa es su casa.” “Our house is your house.”

Sunday, July 30th Today was the day we had been dreading. We woke at 8 am and sat for breakfast at 8:30. We ate our cheese and ham sandwiches out in the fresh air of the main courtyard. We weighed our baggage one last time (with all of our alpaca sweaters and tchotchkes, getting them below 50 pounds was a task!). Paco stopped by to bid us farewell, and Richard and our host siblings escorted us to the airport. Like a scene from the movies, we hugged them goodbye at check- in…and again at the food court…and finally before going through security. We buckled down on the plane and watched blockbuster-after-blockbuster all the way to JFK. Having had so many flights, we considered ourselves very lucky to have had no issues with missing baggage…and then discovered one of our participant’s bags had never left Lima. Too happy to be home to be upset, we boarded the bus back to Camp. Through sleepy eyes, we looked out the windows at the road signs. We exclaimed, “Massachusetts welcomes you!” and, “Look! This way to Becket!” After a couple of stops for bathrooms and food, we arrived around 2:30 AM and went straight to bed.

Monday, July 31st We were given the option of sleeping in and having breakfast brought to our lodging on Monday morning. However, the CCC girls outnumbered the CB boys, so we woke for the 8:15 dining hall meal. We debriefed with TSP admin staff and visited the nurses. Then the leaders held CCR meetings all day while the campers sorted through (literally) thousands of photos and prepared their presentation for parent pick-up. After weeks of developing their leadership skills, it was incredible to watch their new-and-improved way of working as a group. We spent time catching up and swapping stories with ICEP Japan. We had a late-night chat: “How has this trip changed your life?” on the Arts Center porch. The leaders facilitated the group through an activity called “Tap Someone Who.” We prompted them to anonymously identify people who had made a difference to them; who had made remarkable growth; who they would follow; who they could count on for a laugh or a listening ear; etc. Having missed the Berkshire skies while we were away, we reflected, star gazed, and went to sleep.

Tuesday, August 1st Departure day?! It felt like just yesterday it was Arrival Day! We left breakfast early and dragged our bags reluctantly to the Sign Barn. We had some oatmeal raisin cookies, set-up the projector, and waited for our families. We proudly presented on all we had done in Peru, took photos of our group with tear-streaked faces, and waved goodbye. What a whirlwind couple of hours, couple of days, couple of weeks. Adios!