It's kinda hard to breathe at over 11,000 ft elevation

Yesterday we went to Cumbe Mayo! Cumbe Mayo is a man-made structure built by an advanced pre-Inca society. And holy cow it is way up in the mountains! It averages at over 11,000 feet in elevation. We took a tour bus up the mountain, and that was the roughest ride of my life! haha After we got there we hiked around with our tour guide. We loved our guide! He was hilarious! On the way up there he kept falling asleep. But he would wake up every few minutes to tell us some historical fact. It was so funny! But I'll tell you what, hiking around at that elevation is kinda hard. I didn't get altitude sickness or anything, it's just that my heart rate kept jumping up. And you get out of breath really easily.

Cumbe Mayo is famous for it's aqueducts. It's actually really cool to see all the math that they used to make the water flow with precision. And I hate math, so I was pretty impressed! haha They also have lots of petroglyphs and stone pillars.

This picture is of a table that the people used to do sacrifices on. If I remember right, they did animal sacrifices for the water god that they worshiped. The blood would run down the river and into the canal. They would then drink that water. 

It was such a fun little excursion, but I had a headache from hiking around so high up. After Cumbe Mayo, some of us did some grocery shopping. Which I am not a fan of shopping in general, but I don't mind having to only pay just over $10 for a week and half's worth of groceries. So that's awesome! After grocery shopping we took a trip to the hot springs again. I love that place! So relaxing! Well, I think that's it for today's post! Hope y'all have a good day today! 

Adventures and Pig Intestines!

When we're not working on projects, we like to go exploring! Recently, we went to a place called Santa Apolonia. It's really cool! At the very top, there's a look out point where you can see all of Cajamarca. The view is breathtaking!

I can't remember if I have really explained Cajamarca or not. Cajamarca is in the Andes at about 8,900 ft. in elevation. The cool part, though, is that it's kinda in a little valley. So wherever you look, there are mountains in the background. The clouds hang pretty low around the mountains, so it looks like you're in heaven. When we flew in, we had to fly through a layer of clouds. It was so cool!

Anyways, in Santa Apolonia, once you hike down from the look out point, there are tons of historical things. I really liked the little stone houses. But don't go in them, they smell nasty in there! haha

I didn't take a picture of the church, but there is a really pretty church on the hill in Santa Apolonia. There are really cool stairs that lead up to it. They kinda zig zag back and forth up to the top. On the stairs there are lots of vendors. Some of them are pretty persistent, and tell you to come over to look at their stuff. I don't really like those ones. haha So I didn't buy anything.

On Saturday, after doing some visits with Camina Conmigo, we went hiking! We saw some pretty cool waterfalls! But, I forgot to take my camera with me that day, so I don't have any pictures. Sorry. But I had so much fun climbing everywhere on the rocks! Ah! Peru is so beautiful! 

After we went hiking, we stopped at this adorable open air restaurant. I ordered something called frito, cause it was the cheapest. All I knew was that frito meant fried. Fried what, you ask? Yeah I had no idea! haha I ended up getting potatoes and fried pig intestines. Surprisingly, it was pretty good! A little chewy, okay, really chewy! But it was kinda sweet too. I liked it enough that I ate all of it! haha So I was pretty proud of that! 

Tomorrow we are looking into going to Cumbemayo! I'm not exactly sure what it is yet, but I will let you know if we go! Until tomorrow, hasta luego! 

So many blessings

Even though the public transportation here is really cheap, we still try to walk everywhere as much as we can. Yesterday, we walked to and from our health screenings, which takes about 45 minutes one way, if I remember right. We had quite the hike once we got out of the city. It was so beautiful! Emily Swain was very nice to let me use her picture on here. The view was seriously breathtaking!

I especially loved the women at yesterday's health screenings. They were so sweet and nice. It always surprises me though, how young some of the women are. Sometimes a mom and her daughter are both there with their own kids. Like, I will do a blood test on the mom while she is holding her baby, and then I will do a blood test on the daughter who is also holding her own baby. Those women work so hard. And they do it all with their babies on their backs. It's incredible what they do every day. 

There was a little girl at the last health screening who reminded me of myself when I was young. I'm guessing she was about ten-years-old. She basically stood next to me and just watched me prick everyone's fingers. I wish I could have given her a pair of gloves, but we have limited supplies, so I couldn't. It just reminded me of when I wanted to watch everything the nurse did. Anything medical-related fascinated me. It was just interesting and thought provoking to be on the other side. It made me wonder that if she wants to be a nurse, will she ever have the means to become one? She's living in a super rural area. Is she going to get pregnant as a teenager? Will that make it so she can never go to school and become a nurse if she wants to? It again made me realize how blessed I am. If I have the dream and drive to do something, I can do it. Nothing can hold me back but myself.

I have some catching up to do!

Man, I have some catching up to do! We have been so busy around here this last week. So here is what I have been doing the last few days!

This week we have started doing health screenings. That has been my favorite project so far! So far we have been screening mothers for signs of diabetes and high blood pressure. We take their BMI, blood pressure, and blood glucose. I get to prick people's fingers for the blood glucose test. I've decided that I like taking blood from people, it's fun! haha Anyways, after they have all the tests done, someone at the end explains what it all means, and if there is any indication that they should see a doctor. After the screenings are over, we do workshops with them. The workshops consist of how to prepare food in clean ways, how to get clean water, and learning about diabetes and hypertension. I love doing these health screenings!

Yesterday was such a fun day! It was a holiday, called Corpus Christi, here in Peru. So there was a fair going on in Cajamarca! We ran a booth with our partner Camina Conmigo. Our booth had food, balloon animals, and a photo booth. It was so fun! And I got to be in the sun all day and got a nice tan! haha I'm starting to look like your Mexican daughter, Mom! haha But seriously, it was so fun to be able to interact with the locals all day. Oh, and eating Peruvian food is always a plus too! I love the smell of street food. One of my favorite street foods is called anticuchos. I'll have to take a picture of it sometime. It's basically meat and potatoes on a kebab. I'll tell you what, Peruvians know how to cook meat! It's always perfect! I love having anticucho de pollo (chicken anitcuchos). So flippin' good!

I really wish that I had been able to take more pictures of the actual fair, especially all the bands. They were playing traditional Peruvian music. It was really fun to see the locals dance the Marinera. I would like to learn that one! If I remember right, it's a dance about a couple courting, and they use handkerchiefs as props. I loved to see the little girls all dressed up in their fancy dresses. They're just so cute! I'm seriously considering adopting a Peruvian someday, they're adorable!

Lots going on lately!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while! It's been pretty busy around here! Saturday was definitely the hardest, but best day I've had here. We got up early to go to the campo with Camina Conmigo again. It is still hard to see all of the poverty there. It's beautiful, but such a hard life. The women are fantastic. They work so hard.

We checked up on more kids with special needs while we were in the mountains. We went to some pretty remote places. It's crazy to think how the kids who are in wheelchairs, who even have wheelchairs, get around. We did some serious hiking to get to their houses.

I was so humbled on Saturday when we went to this one house in particular. It was this group of women all together with their kids who have special needs. After we chatted, and assessed the kids' needs, they told us that they were going to feed us. So they pulled out wood planks and buckets to make benches for us. They sat us all down and started serving us their food. There was about ten of us in total, and they gave each of us a heaping bowl of rice, quinoa, potatoes, and hen. After we all had our food, they started serving themselves. But instead of each person having their own bowl like us, each family had one bowl. So there was one bowl for at least four people. They were also eating with their fingers, because they had given all of their spoons to us to use. I have never felt so guilty in my life. I did not want to eat that food. But, to be respectful, I ate all that they gave me. Because, by feeding us, it is their way of saying thank you. Because there isn't really another way that they can thank us. That was really hard. So to say thank you for the food, we washed the dishes. 

There was this one little girl that stuck with me from that visit. I assumed that she was about five months old, but she is really two years old. Her head is really deformed, and has some sort of brain damage. She doesn't really talk or move, and her legs dangle. That little girl broke my heart. She made me think about why I am really here. I don't know if I will be able to really help her, or make her life better, but I can try. We don't know why she is the way she is. But it makes me think about blessed I am, that I come from where I do. I know that if something went wrong with my baby, I could easily take her to the hospital and get treatment. And she could live out the rest of her life as a healthy girl.

Again, I am so grateful for this experience. I have learned so much. I hope that I can one day be as wonderful and good as the people I meet. I love them so much.

Santo Hogar

So the last few days have been pretty chill around here. And I haven't been very good at taking pictures either. Sorry! So this post is going to be pretty short.

This morning I sat on the roof of our house to watch the sunrise. It is seriously so beautiful here! I just can't get enough of it!

This afternoon, we went to a place called Santo Hogar. It is a place for kids with special needs. That has definitely been my favorite part of being here so far. Today we just spent our time playing with them and getting to know them. Eventually, the plan is to help them out with any exercises and therapy that they need. Those kids are adorable! And they are so happy! It really made me realize that I don't need much in the way of material things to be happy. These kids have so little, and some come from some very hard backgrounds, but they are happy. I just love those kids. 

One thing about people here in Cajamarca, it's really hard to tell how old people are. Because the people are so malnourished, it stunts their growth. I met a kid who was eleven years old, but he looks around seven or eight years old. A lot of the kids are this way. It just breaks my heart to see it. I am so fortunate to live in America where all of my basic needs are easily accessible. 

In other news, our water has been out for most of the day. We're not sure why. So, currently, our two toilets don't flush, and one sink has water sometimes. Hopefully, it will be back on tomorrow.

Well, I believe that is it for this post! Adios!

I ate my childhood pet!

For those of you who don't know, when I was a little kid we had a pet guinea pig named Teak. He was the cutest, fluffiest orange and white ball of fur you ever did see. We called him Teaker Sneakers. In Cajamarca, people eat guinea pigs. It's called cuy. I would have never guessed that I would some day eat a relative of my pet Teak. I was a little hesitant at first at the restaurant on Saturday, but I did it! I ate it! The part I had was a leg. And the little nails are still attached and everything. It's actually really good! And yes, it really does taste just like chicken.

We spent most of Saturday up in the mountains (campo) talking to families with kids who have disabilities. Because they are in such a rural area, they don't have access to the medical attention they need. We are working with an amazing group called Camina Conmigo who runs the project. Right now, they are still just in the process of finding kids who need help, and documenting information on them and their needs. This group is going to do amazing things for so many people!

Up in the campo, they farm corn. And let me tell you, this corn is so yummy! It's huge! After we finished talking to one family, the mom brought us a bowl of freshly cooked, steaming hot corn kernels. Those things were so juicy and good! I took a picture just to prove how big they are.

After we got back from the campo, we decided to go the hot springs in Banos del Inca. They were amazing! You basically fill up a big bathtub with the hot water in a little room. You have thirty minutes to chill in there. And since we don't really have hot water at the house, we all brought our shampoo and conditioner, etc. so that way we could wash with hot water. It was so nice! I've never really appreciated having simple things like hot running water before. 

There are a lot of things that I appreciate so much more now. For instance, we are all just sleeping on mattresses on the floor. And to go to the bathroom here, you can do your business in the toilet, but you can't flush toilet paper or it will clog the pipes. So you have to throw that away seperately. Everything is really simple and basic here. It makes me realize just how blessed I am to live in America. But that being said, I wouldn't trade my time here in Peru for anything! I just love being here. I'm not sure that six weeks is long enough. I guess I will just have to work my hardest and enjoy it that much more!

I'm lovin' it!

Well, day two was a success! Word of advice: exercising when you are at twice the elevation that you normally are makes it kinda hard to breathe. Cajamarca is at about 8,900 ft. So it just makes it a little hard to catch your breath for a minute. Don't worry Mom, I'm breathing just fine. :)

We started the day bright and early by going into the city to teach English classes. That was really fun, but pretty hard, too. My Spanish skills are next to nothing, so the language barrier was hard to get around. Gestures are my new best friend! I've decided that teaching English is an excellent way to learn Spanish!

Just a heads up: I'm going to be talking about the food A LOT. It is all just so stinkin' good! We went out for chifa for lunch today. Chifa is Peruvian and Chinese food mixed together. I got pollo de pina (chicken and pineapple) with limonada (lemonade). It was so yummy! I also really love granadilla. That stuff is so good, but so weird at the same time. I peeled about half of the peel off, poked a hole in the top, and squeezed the seeds out like a Go-Gurt. I think it tastes like Starbursts.

Granadilla

We also did some exploring around Cajamarca today. This city is seriously so beautiful. I love the mixture of the old and modern cultures. I love seeing at the street vendors and women carrying babies on their backs. Because of the elevation, it does get pretty cold at night. And since we don't have a heater in our house, last night I actually wore a skirt with my pants because I was so cold. During the day, the temperature is around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night it is around 40ish degrees. I have been wearing a light jacket most of the time during the day.

I seriously love Peru! I just really know that this is where I am supposed to be right now. I am completely and thoroughly exhausted, but I am happy. So, so happy.

I made it to Peru!!

I am finally in Cajamarca, Peru!! Woooo! It still doesn't quite feel real, yet. It feels like I'm going to wake up, and none of this will have actually happened.

But, first thing first. Cajamarca is so beautiful! Holy cow! There are cows and fields everywhere. I love it! It reminds me of home a bit. I can smell the cows from my house, and it's wonderful! 

And second, Inca Kola is amazing! It tastes like bubble gum mixed with a pineapple Jarritos! So flippin' good! (Ps-Jarritos is a Mexican soda that is amazing!) On my plane to Cajamarca, I experienced keke and habas. I really liked both! Favorite airplane snacks I've ever had! Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but keke is like a thick cake made of eggs and other stuff. I'm not sure what other stuff, but it's really good. And habas are a type of bean that is fried in oil until it splits. Then it is salted. Habas reminds me of chicharrones (fried pork rinds), but with a more peanut buttery taste.

Well, I am exhausted, but so excited to get started on this adventure! We haven't done much in Cajamarca, yet. But, tomorrow the fun begins!