March 11th, 2010

Quote of the Day: Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect.

The day started at 6am with Sara and I going for our daily walk. Bravo!!, first day we made it back without a wrong turn. After breakfast we head for CDLN. Somehow Juanita gets us there safely each day. Upon arriving we hold our morning meeting where the journal is read,telling us about the day before. We discuss how things are going in our homes. We then separate and go to our assigned houses. Sara and I go to San Buenoventura where Pedro assigns the task of dusting the artificial flowers. There were enough of them to last all morning. We take a break and then head for the dining hall. We help set the table, dish up the soup and pour the drinks.

Today I make sure the cabinet key is safely in my pocket so Doris doesn't worry that it has been lost, like yesterday. Each day we are assigned to sit at a different table at lunch so we are able to meet all the different boys. We usually are able to ask their names and a few other questions in Espanol. But oh, these old minds have difficulty remembering names, so it's repito, repito, repito. Then onto the kitchen duty of washing and drying dishes which was difficult today when the water stopped running. Christian and I had a finger water fight with water on the counter while we waited for water to start flowing again from the taps. Now back to the house where the boys start on their homework.After talking to a few boys and looking at the work they are doing, I go to Robert's table at his request. I thought I was to help cover more books which I learned the proper technique yesterday. But alas No! It is to draw a design in one of his notebooks. Whoa! I don't draw, but he insists. I copy the design from another notebook. Luckily it is on graph paper and is easy to count boxes. It keeps me busy for a while and he keeps ensuring me it is good. He then asks if I would do another and then if I would do all. I reply yes before I ask the question, cuantos? What a mistake, there are 6 more books to do, but I have tomorrow to finish them. He really conned me, the third book he gives me isn't graph paper, so now it is free hand drawing. Actually it does not look too bad and he is pleased. During this time the boys are trying out their English and asking questions. The dictionary is very helpful for both them and myself. We all use it and learn new words and phrases. We all seem to enjoy the interaction and I am eager to continue tomorrow.The day was quickly over and we head back to the hotel, dinner and much needed rest.

- June

Day 3 March 9th, 2010

Quote for the day: "Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while or the light won't come in." Alan Alda, American Actor/Activist.

Today we started at CDLN with a brief recap of yesterday starting with Jessica's inspiring journal entry. Myrian asked for feedback from the first day which we all were eager to share. Planned interactions with the boys seem to vary by the house and the will of the tutors. We are proud we all find our way to our respective homes on our own today. We are eager to see what tasks may be assigned today. I wonder would I be of any use especially since I have such limited skills in speaking Spanish. What kind of contribution could I make? June and I are with the San Benivito Family house. When we enter we are told that today we will wash the windows. Happily I thought , well here is a task I can do. June and I quickly developed a system for completing this task. I would do the upper windows and she the lower due to our height difference and we could oppose each other to check for missed spots.

So I sought a metaphor for all this window washing that also speaks to broadening our world view through challenging our assumptions. When we speak of wanting to help we need to be reminded someone has to do the basic tasks that keep the organization working. I realized in a moment of clarity looking through clean windows. After we ate lunch together with our Families, we did go back and worked with the boys covering books and they did seem to enjoy having us there to try some words of English and quiz us on our words in Spanish. Exhausted but content with a good day's work behind us the team met for dinner. The waiter finally broke down and spoke to us in English that he enjoyed serving us since we were very nice people. Thus validated we headed off for a good night's sleep to prepare for another day.

- Sarah

Day 2 March 8, 2010

Quote of the day: I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. –Edward Everett Hale

The alarm sounds and I awake with a smile. Each morning I awake with a smile for God has granted me another day. However, my smile today is for not only another day, but a day to help others. How lucky I am.

The team meets for breakfast and I'm excited to see the smiles on each one of us. We depart for CDLN, all excited curious, and interested in the new experience that lies before us. With no concrete expectations this van of women (on international day of the woman) travels to meet “our boys” for the first time. We have a warm greeting from the staff, including Brother Hugo.

Then our journey around the campus begins. I'm fascinated by each home and as I glance at my teammates it´s clear that so are they. “We travel from the little shoes to the big shoes” as Barbara pointed out. As we each approach “our home” it's fun to see us each light up, we become kids at heart while taking in our new surroundings. We quickly learn first hand how special CDLN is to these children and community.

After our tour we receive a quick Spanish lesson. During this lesson I realize these are the words that will bring us together. These are the words the boys will use, the tutors will use and I will use in order to bond. With no Spanish background this begins to make me a little nervous. Then I must quickly push my nerves aside as I now see the boys traveling back from school and we each walk to our homes.

Lunch is first on the list and I'm asked to help set up. I watch the boys and see the enthusiasm they have with the simple task of preparing for lunch. All of the boys and my teammates begins to enter the cafeteria and complete the same task. Then the boys stand waiting for the prayer to begin. The loud roar of the boys fills the room as they share in the blessing, then time to eat. Today´s menu includes soup, rice, beans and lettuce. The words “finish your meal, set a good example” enter my mind as I´m eating the last few bites. Later on I learn the other teammates are thinking the same thing. No barrier is broken during lunch as all the boys are distracted with the food and the company of each other. Alice makes me feel welcomed.

Then dishes is when the barriers begin to be broken. Smiles, laughs and tricks like splashing in the water begin to bring us together. This continues as recess follows our lunchtime. As I observe the boys I cannot help but smile and laugh as they are. Then little by little the boys run over, give me a hug and quickly run off to continue their game of soccer. The warmth I feel from the sunshine doesn´t compare to the new warmth I feel of the heart.

I realize…
I cannot speak to them, but I can give them a smile.
I cannot understand their questions, but I can give them a hug, and
I cannot help them with their studies but I can laugh with them as they all joke with each other.

Our evening ends with wonderful food and conversation as well as a reflection of our day and our excitement for tomorrow. A tomorrow where I will continue to learn it´s not about what I cannot do, it´s about what I can.

- Jessica

Day 1 March 7th, 2010

Quote of Day: Neither fire nor wind, birth nor death can erase our gooddeeds. Buddha

We start our first day in Peru as a team coming as individuals to fulfill our promise to be "servant-learners". Not quite a team yet we meet with Myrian Bellido our group leader. She is an engaging, well-educated and intelligent young woman with many skills. First she leads us in introducing ourselves. Our most seasoned Global Volunteer is Jane, a refined traveler from California. She has served 7-8 times before with Global Volunteers and wants to continue until her 80's. Ah wisdom of experience. June comes from a log cabin in the beautiful woods of Vermont. She has a busy schedule of volunteering in the VA hospital, for AIDS sufferers and other groups as well as her church. She was an IT manager and we plan to use her skills immediately. Already we are coast to coast. Next our youngest member Jessica who is from Minnesota but is now in Wisconsin and works as a Banquet/Restaurant Manager and Event Planner. She is wise beyond her years and we see her talents that night at dinner manifested in brief. Sara a Child Psychologist from Texas but Virginian for 40 years is also a volunteer servant in several organizations such as her church and working with abused women. Her infectious laugh lightens our gathering. Barbara is the fifth member, born in Baltimore,but widely traveled as a result of her Air Force Nurse experience and interests in retirement (semi). She is a Nurse Practitioner and has some experience in volunteering with abused women as well. She is the scribe today.

Our first task was to identify the characteristics of a team, then we learn about our host organization the "Ciudad (city) of de los Ninos", alive-in program for at risk boys 3 to 18 years of age. There are various homes made up of about 30 boys each and are divided by ages. We learn that we will be assisting the tutors who live there with the boys after they return from school for lunch and homework. We defined our team goals, thusly armed with that information and our expectations.

Team Goals:

1. To work cooperatively and supportively to meet the needs of our hosts as they request

2. To learn about and grow with each other in this process

3. To share and celebrate the cultural exchange

4. To enjoy the whole experience

After we have exhausted Myrian with questions especially about Espanol and pronunciations and meanings we break for lunch. Myrian has a wonderful suggestion - a walk along the cliffs beside the Pacific Ocean. Our destination is a lunch place overlooking a picturesque Peruvian beach and coast line. Lovely Lima at her best. Along the way we see life and people about in parks and busy highways.We have a tasty lunch and sample chica and Inca Cola, two popular drinks in Peru and get our first lesson in the unknown Peru gastronomy at Pollo Pardo's. We catch a cab back to the hotel and spend our afternoon either on a city tour or meeting Peruvian friends.

Sara and Barbara tour the Museum of Anthropology for 1 1/2 hours (a must see collection of well preserved pottery etc through long history of Peru from the Chavin to the Colonialtimes.)

June and Jessica enjoy hearing the history of Peru and seeing local sites of interest. Jane enjoys a cool ocean breeze as she reads her book on the Plaza in front of hotel by the fountain. Aah, life is good!

The group meets for dinner at the great Italian restaurant Donnatella where we manifest one of the team characteristics we identified -"Comraderie" - yes ladies I can spell it. Those who arrived at midnight the day before, are now as ready as the rest of us to retire from a long day of preparation, fun and anticipation. Thanks to Myrian (our sister) and Frank, our Hotel manager, who keeps a brotherly helpful eye on us, for this day - our beginning.

- Barbara

The Joy of Volunteering in Peru

Thank you so much for all the work that you do!

What an exciting adventure my husband, Tim, and I had as members of the 92nd Global Volunteers team to Lima, Peru! We worked at the orphanage - PPA (Puericultorio Perez Aranibar)! It is a life-changing experience to leave the comfort of one's home in SE Minnesota and travel to another continent and experience a life so different from our own. Yet, even with all the cultural differences and the poverty, the same wonderful human spirit shines through.

Working with a Global Volunteers' team is so unique because the volunteers come from around the States (and with this team - even Canada!) to volunteer together to wage peace. We first get to know one another through a series of questions about team work and goal setting so that when we begin our work, we know one another better.

The work in Lima at PPA is so worthwhile because at the orphanage the children need the love that the Global Volunteers bring and the staff appreciates the help. Each team builds on what the former teams have done and sets the stage for the next team coming in.

Being Global Volunteers we have our goals
As talents we release.
We hope our actions and our words
Will help us to wage peace.

What change did come for most of us
In culture and in weather!
Our team has had a lot of fun
Experiencing it together.

My quote today from Helen Keller
Fits all though short or tall:
"Life is an exciting adventure,
Or nothing at all."

Gratefully, Bonnie Rietz, Peru volunteer

There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread

Coming into this as a volunteer in PPA, I did not know what to expect. I thought that maybe the kids would not have enough to eat or would not be well taken care of. I was suprised to find that all of the kids were fed well and all had their own bed and clean bathrooms. All the kids really need was love and attention. Everyday when I go see the kids, the instant I smile at one or give a child attention you can see their face light up. When you take the kids outside, they don't always want to play sometimes they just like being near you, having some human contact. Although the kids are taken care of physically, emotionally they ache for any type of human contact. We will never see a permanent change in these kids, because they need love forever, however we can see when we are with them how happy they are and appreciate that maybe for just one day we are making their lives better. Even though we are leaving today we can hope that the kids will continue to get the love and attention that they deserve from other volunteers and hopefully one day their family.

Lexi Strictland

Carpe diem (Seize the day)

Once we were ten
But today we are three
Team 90 on Monday
Jack, Gary and me.

Each morning we meet
And after we eat
We're off to our destination
Without procrastination.

The van knows the way
We go every day
Except for one day
We went the wrong way.

We circled about
That first roundabout
And found PPA's gate
Before we were late.

We gather to see
What assignments will be
Then off where the children await
Hurry, hurry, we can't be late.

The gardens need flowers
And also some showers
The rocks will give way
With some muscle this day.

Slides ready for sliding
Swings waiting for swinging
How the children run
To have fun, fun, fun.

But sometimes a tear
Or a scream we may hear
But soon they are gone
With a hug or a song.

Too soon it's time for the bus
CIAO, CIAO, goodbye from us.
Back to our lodging to eat some more
And make our plans for the next day's chore.

Thought for the day: Carpe diem (Seize the day)
Sally Keller