Day 3: Up the mountains to Agallpampa!

I had to wake up at 6am this morning...rough!!! We took a long bus ride (2-3 hrs) to Agallpampa, a rural town/ village up in the mountains. The view is absolutely beautiful!! Like a resort area people in the U.S. would pay thousands to go to. Unfortunately the people are poor and lacking in many needs. I was surprised for example to see mud houses and shacks. We spoke to the mothers there and saw some of their knitting handiwork. I was blown away by the skills. Just amazing. We recruited 11 mothers into the GDC econ. development program and also set up hygiene stations in 12 homes. It was an extremely long day and we didn't get back home till almost 6pm, but ahhh I loved it! So rewarding.

Day 2: Well hello Trujillo!

Slept during the entire 10 hour bus ride to Trujillo. With a movie screen in front of me to watch, blankets provided, a foot rest, headphones, even snacks and dinner, I mean that bus felt like a luxury bus. Anyway, once we got to Trujillo, we met Diana and her family. Diana's mother is soooo cute! The whole fam really are just adorable.

So the plans changed and we explored Trujillo. Took some fabulous pics. Went shopping for the program and got some hygiene materials. Ate delicious food once we got home and ended the night at a discoteca :D

After the discoteca. Looking sweaty and rough lol

Day 1: Touring Lima!

Woke up yesterday morning after an interesting night spent hanging out with some folks from Chile. It was definitely interesting to say the least. Basically my room in the hostel we stayed at had 8 beds in total (4 bunk beds). It was 3 of us from my program and the rest were 1 girl from Argentina (Julieta) backpacking and 4 guys from Chile- Phillipo, Martin, Ronaldo, and can't remember the last guy's name.


So since this was our first and last day in Lima, me and Ernest did some major exploring. We left the touristy part (Miraflores) and went to Central Lima for the real action aka life in Peru. First we hopped on a taxi and I chose a place called Gamara. It's a huge open market where they sell a lot of cheap clothes. I thought it would be like a 5-10 min ride....FALSE. It was 30-45 mins. Too long. And the cab ride? Ah definitely got taken advantage of cause I hadn't done my research. We paid 22 Soles when it's usually like 7-10 soles. Anyhoo, had a fantastic time in the market. Bought two items, definitely got some stares, but I'm sure it's cause of Ernest and his leather jacket in the blazing heat. Instant stand out.

After shopping and eating at this fantastic restaurant (Norky's), we took a cab back, paid 15 soles- a bit better but not the best cause we still didn't bargain- and chilled at the hostel for a bit. Then our last group member came in from the airport, went back out Miraflores, ate some fantastic food at a different restaurant, had Chicha Morada (famous Peruvian drink), did some shopping at this flea market at the square. Then hoped on a 10 hour bus ride to Trujillo- where the work will officially begins.


 The pictures speak for themselves ;-)

Chicha morada!

Tis Time!!!

6:07 am: Sitting out here in JFK. Waiting is such a bore. Only good thing is I get to catch up on my reading ("the girl with the dragon tatoo"). Sadly I had an msg infested breakfast sandwich from Wendy's. My stomach cried out for food and I faithful obliged, now I regret it. I hate the after taste in my mouth. That's one thing I'm looking forward to in Peru- fresh food!! Not infested with hormones like the ish they serve here.

3:35 pm: I had a slight panic attack. So my flight from DC to ATL got delayed by an hr. It got to ATL at 3:10pm but my flight to Peru was supposed to leave at 3:35pm. First I was frantically tryna find the terminal, then I find out its on the complete opposite side of the airport at E8 and I was at A22. Panic! I was sprint walking, running, then I finally caught a train that took me to the terminal. Did some more running and got there huffing and puffing. Everyone was already boarded but Wheeeew it hadn't left yet! Made it at 3:30pm. Success!!! Of course as I walked to my seat I felt like that one person that came odee late. Haha. Then as I sit down, there's an announcement, "due to blah blah the flight has been delayed. They need to change something and we will depart at 4:00pm." Pause...did I just run here for nothing?? Naahh. I'm sure if the plane wasn't delayed I wouldn't have made it lol. They usually close the door with 5 minutes left. So I guess thanks are in order....thank you Jesus!

Later that day:

- I guess Penn folks are everywhere cause I saw a Penn wharton grad student as I excited the plane in Peru. Her Wharton '13 fleece jacket was a dead giveaway.

- While flipping through the radio channels on the plane, I heard a familiar voice and stopped to listen. Sure enough it was the voice of Chimamanda Adichie talking about a single story (Look up her Ted talk). Kudos to Delta Airlines for that one.

- Immigration was the longest line ever.

- Driving in Peru is almost equivalent as driving in Nigeria. That ish craayy!! - Finally got to my hostel at about 12:15am. Linked up with Ernest later that night to find a food place. Major fail. But we did get to see Miraflores at night (side note: so many cats in the park/plaza!)

- Went to bed at 4am after some nice convo with some cool backpackers at Loki Hostel (met an American couple backpacking around the world for 6 months, met some Australians backpacking South America, met Argentians, cute guys from Chile...everyone seems pretty chill and friendly)

Oh and my Spanish....aahh I'm getting by. LOL

Pictures of Loki Hostel below. At just 20 soles a night which is just under 10 bucks a night (2.85 soles = $1), it's a steal!!

Loved the mural

Umm...

In less than 48 hours I will be in Lima, Peru...on my own    O_O

And it gets closer. T- 7days

I received a Rosetta CD with Spanish 1&II (and 26 other languages) in the mail yesterday :-D Let's just say I'm blessed to have some awesome people in my life.

Also got a cellphone to use while in Peru (given to me by the internship). Awesome stuff :)

Cheers,

Derin

Must...Brush...Up...On...SPANISH!

Help is needed. 9 days to go....weeeeee!!!

Officially Confirmed!

Ahhh it's good to have faith. Honestly. So even though I got into this internship, I didn't have enough funds to buy my plane ticket which was ~$1200-1400, or for the entire program fee (living, feeding, in country traveling etc). Mind you, I also needed to renew my passport which cost me a lil over $200 because it was expedited. Yea, talk about struggles. Anyway, lets just say God is good cause um, I was finally able to buy my ticket - whoot whoot!!! Thanks to the generous contribution/ sponsorship from folks at Penn and also from Family. Talk about blessings! God is too good on some real ish. So yup, I am officially confirmed :-D

Cheers,

Derin

The Soles of my feet

Wadddddduuuuppp!!!!!


Here's a little tidbit bout this blog:


- This winter, I will be traveling to Nuevo Jerusalen, a really under-served area ( or "slum" - I don't care for that word though) outside the major city of Trujillo, Peru in order to assist in Centro de Salud la Union, a medical clinic in the area. 


- I will be traveling with a group of students in my university’s chapter of Global Development Collaborative Inc, a student-led nonprofit organization. 


- I will also be facilitating the health campaign in the community (Diabetes and Dental care) and helping with our economic development initiative (expanding the knitting business, whose products we sell in the U.S.).

Throughout this journey , you will be updated on my experience through my daily blog and pictures. Awesome right?


Very excited :-D

For more information about the Global Development Collaborative Inc, click here: http://globaldevelopmentco.org/



Cheers!


Derin