Good Morning!
We apologize for any confusion - please follow your original plan arranged with the Groton School for transportation from JFK. Thank you!
~Erin Lasky
Program Director
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Groton and Emily Carey School students are coming home!
Message to Parents:
The group is returning tomorrow to JFK Airport. Below you will find the return flight information for your convenience.
AA 918 Lima to Miami 11:30PM - 6:10AM
AA 1510 Miami to JFK 11:30AM - 2:30PM
Parents are asked to meet their sons and daughters at the airport. Please call the office at 303-679-3412 or e-mail Erin at erin@worldleadershipschool.com with any questions.
The group is returning tomorrow to JFK Airport. Below you will find the return flight information for your convenience.
AA 918 Lima to Miami 11:30PM - 6:10AM
AA 1510 Miami to JFK 11:30AM - 2:30PM
Parents are asked to meet their sons and daughters at the airport. Please call the office at 303-679-3412 or e-mail Erin at erin@worldleadershipschool.com with any questions.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
It is time for our departure from Ollantaytambo, and this will be the last blog of our trip. There are many stories and pictures which have not yet been told, but I trust on Tuesday they will steadily flow from the kids to you. It has been a fabulous trip and we have accomplished a great deal in the community. Today we are putting the final touches on our project before we dapart for Cuszco this afternoon. FB
The vibrant energy between Groton and Emily N. Carey school students has caused the project at Tierra del Niño’s to work extremely well, considering the differences in social and economic backgrounds of the two groups, the students have proven that when individuals work toward a common goal anything is possible. I am proud to have been a part of this special endeavor working with such exceptional and passionate students, that I look forward to continuing my relationship with the World Leadership School staff, Groton faculty, students, and everyone involved in this great undertaking.
Don W. Mabrey
Emily N. Carey School faculty
Don W. Mabrey
Emily N. Carey School faculty
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My boys, Teddy and Jobe, and I arrived in Ollantaytambo on Sunday an hour or so before the hikers returned from their overnight. We greeted a dirty but exhilarated group, and the boys were thrilled to see their bearded dad. After a quick change out of their hiking clothes, Lilah, Chloe, and Julia were kind enough (and energetic enough after hiking!) to take me on a running tour of the town. They instructed me to pick up some small rocks and brace myself for some aggressive dogs. As a pack of four, we happily avoided any nasty encounter, and I was grateful for the girls’ patience as I adjusted to the altitude.
Craig fell in love with Ollantaytambo last year and was eager for me and our boys to experience the great pleasures of this place and its people. He was also so enormously impressed with the Groton students on the trip that the experience, in fact, served to deepen his commitment to the school and its mission. Craig, Fred, Cindy, and I believe wholeheartedly that experiences such as this one—away from the Circle but together—enhance our understanding of community and play a profound role in preparing our students for the “active work of life” in a world that needs individuals to exhibit great understanding, compassion, and ethical leadership. Talking with this year’s students and watching them both labor and play with local community members and each other, I have been remarkably impressed with the fusion of purposefulness and playfulness on display here – and with the genuine drive to connect meaningfully with people whose life experiences are—in so many ways—different from our students’.
As I write today from inside a classroom of the elementary school, our students’ host families are preparing a Pachamanca—a feast of pork, beef, and chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables and cooked together over heated stones in a hole in the ground—to celebrate the near completion of the building project. Next to me in this classroom, three local girls, Veronica, Celeste, and Guadalupe are making thank-you cards for all of the volunteers. The students have worked incredibly hard and made remarkably swift progress. The pictures will tell you much of the story. I have been blown away by the vision and efficiency of the mural artists. And in this country of the expert Incan stoneworkers, our students have proven themselves to be very able terrace and wall builders. More important than their talent, however, have been their spirit and commitment to this work. Today, they worked almost non-stop from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Never a complaint was heard; rather, they reveled in their dirtiness and their progress. Groton kids know how to work hard. How great it is to see them so proud of their efforts and having such fun along the way!
****
At the close of the Pachumanca, a host parent, Ana, stood up to thank not only the students but also their parents, whom Ana realizes have sacrificed much to allow the students to be in Ollantaytambo this summer. Like Ana, I appreciate how difficult separation between parents and children can be, particularly in the precious months of summer; thus, I am also particularly grateful to be able to share this experience with Craig and our boys this summer. I am grateful also for the warm embrace the children of Ollantaytambo and the students on the trip have given Teddy and Jobe. There is no better education than experience. We are all lucky in so many ways!
Tomorrow morning we will all be gathering in the town plaza at 4:45 a.m. and heading down to the train station in town to travel to Machu Picchu. The trip will take about an hour and a half. It should be yet another remarkable day. We will write again on Friday.
Viva Peru! -- Nancy
My boys, Teddy and Jobe, and I arrived in Ollantaytambo on Sunday an hour or so before the hikers returned from their overnight. We greeted a dirty but exhilarated group, and the boys were thrilled to see their bearded dad. After a quick change out of their hiking clothes, Lilah, Chloe, and Julia were kind enough (and energetic enough after hiking!) to take me on a running tour of the town. They instructed me to pick up some small rocks and brace myself for some aggressive dogs. As a pack of four, we happily avoided any nasty encounter, and I was grateful for the girls’ patience as I adjusted to the altitude.
Craig fell in love with Ollantaytambo last year and was eager for me and our boys to experience the great pleasures of this place and its people. He was also so enormously impressed with the Groton students on the trip that the experience, in fact, served to deepen his commitment to the school and its mission. Craig, Fred, Cindy, and I believe wholeheartedly that experiences such as this one—away from the Circle but together—enhance our understanding of community and play a profound role in preparing our students for the “active work of life” in a world that needs individuals to exhibit great understanding, compassion, and ethical leadership. Talking with this year’s students and watching them both labor and play with local community members and each other, I have been remarkably impressed with the fusion of purposefulness and playfulness on display here – and with the genuine drive to connect meaningfully with people whose life experiences are—in so many ways—different from our students’.
As I write today from inside a classroom of the elementary school, our students’ host families are preparing a Pachamanca—a feast of pork, beef, and chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables and cooked together over heated stones in a hole in the ground—to celebrate the near completion of the building project. Next to me in this classroom, three local girls, Veronica, Celeste, and Guadalupe are making thank-you cards for all of the volunteers. The students have worked incredibly hard and made remarkably swift progress. The pictures will tell you much of the story. I have been blown away by the vision and efficiency of the mural artists. And in this country of the expert Incan stoneworkers, our students have proven themselves to be very able terrace and wall builders. More important than their talent, however, have been their spirit and commitment to this work. Today, they worked almost non-stop from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Never a complaint was heard; rather, they reveled in their dirtiness and their progress. Groton kids know how to work hard. How great it is to see them so proud of their efforts and having such fun along the way!
****
At the close of the Pachumanca, a host parent, Ana, stood up to thank not only the students but also their parents, whom Ana realizes have sacrificed much to allow the students to be in Ollantaytambo this summer. Like Ana, I appreciate how difficult separation between parents and children can be, particularly in the precious months of summer; thus, I am also particularly grateful to be able to share this experience with Craig and our boys this summer. I am grateful also for the warm embrace the children of Ollantaytambo and the students on the trip have given Teddy and Jobe. There is no better education than experience. We are all lucky in so many ways!
Tomorrow morning we will all be gathering in the town plaza at 4:45 a.m. and heading down to the train station in town to travel to Machu Picchu. The trip will take about an hour and a half. It should be yet another remarkable day. We will write again on Friday.
Viva Peru! -- Nancy
Many days have passed now since we began working on the site at the school. Our “Tierra de los Ninos” project is coming along wonderfully. We have been working on the two terraces on plants and raised beds. Our stone walls are omnipresent across the worksite. I think I speak for more than one when I say that stone walls are a lot harder to make than they look! The recycling center is a brilliant purple from hours of painting and the mural is looking fantastic. We might even be able to add another section to it! All in all the work around the site is rumbling on and spirits remain high. Although nearing our last day, it seems as though we just arrived. Ciao!
-Jack Cohen
Last night, Cullen, Josh, Miguel and I made chicken parmesan for our host family, except we didn’t have chicken breasts, or mozzarella or parmesan cheese. So instead we used chicken thighs and legs and generic cheese. Miguel dubbed the dish Tomato Chicken Drum Generico, Peruvian Style. It actually turned out to be incredible. Our host mother thought it was hilarious that four boys were making dinner for the family. Our host family really liked the dish and it was a great experience for all. Today, our host mother promised to teach us how to make Chicha Morada soup, a great dish of deep purple gelatin-like soup with bananas in it. It was interesting to see how cooking unites people from around the world. I just wish we had more time to cook more foods for our family!
-Zach Baharozian
Tierra de Ninos has made so much progress in the past couple of weeks. The terraces are finally completely built, and the fence is almost complete. On one of the more interesting days, Abby and I broke up manure by hand for fertilizer. The mural and recycling center look great and are almost done being painted. All that is left is to mix cement for the last fence posts, level the terraces, and plant. It’s been so rewarding to see this place go up as a result of our hard work. It will be very hard to leave it.
Molly Belsky
-Jack Cohen
Last night, Cullen, Josh, Miguel and I made chicken parmesan for our host family, except we didn’t have chicken breasts, or mozzarella or parmesan cheese. So instead we used chicken thighs and legs and generic cheese. Miguel dubbed the dish Tomato Chicken Drum Generico, Peruvian Style. It actually turned out to be incredible. Our host mother thought it was hilarious that four boys were making dinner for the family. Our host family really liked the dish and it was a great experience for all. Today, our host mother promised to teach us how to make Chicha Morada soup, a great dish of deep purple gelatin-like soup with bananas in it. It was interesting to see how cooking unites people from around the world. I just wish we had more time to cook more foods for our family!
-Zach Baharozian
Tierra de Ninos has made so much progress in the past couple of weeks. The terraces are finally completely built, and the fence is almost complete. On one of the more interesting days, Abby and I broke up manure by hand for fertilizer. The mural and recycling center look great and are almost done being painted. All that is left is to mix cement for the last fence posts, level the terraces, and plant. It’s been so rewarding to see this place go up as a result of our hard work. It will be very hard to leave it.
Molly Belsky
Monday, July 20, 2009
Overnight Hike
The hike began bright and early Saturday morning at roughly 7:30 a.m. We walked about a mile to the mules where we unloaded our sleeping bags and heavy backpacks. Then we proceeded onwards with our light backpacks up until about 10 o’ clock where we stopped for a light snack near Incan ruins. After snacking we waited for lunch. Some of the group napped and others played bananagrams or engaged in conversation. Then we had a light lunch of cheese sandwiches with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Then we rested for a little while and continued up the mountain generally staying together until we reached the top. We reached the campsite at about 3 in the afternoon.
Once we got to the campsite, we unloaded the mules and set up our tents. Then we relaxed by playing card games like Uno or Bridge or by playing charades. We played for a while and the games got really intense and competitive. Then we had an afternoon tea which consisted of popcorn, crackers and of course, tea that the guides provided in our food tent. After tea we played some more card games / charades and put on more layers as the sun set and the temperature plummeted rapidly. Then when it got dark a few of us stargazed and identified the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, a few planets, satellites and shooting stars. We even renamed some unidentified constellations. The sky was beautiful and it was amazing to see the stars so clearly at 12,500 feet.
Then we had dinner which was soup followed by rice and chicken. After dinner some people turned in early while others stargazed more and hung around by the campfire. Since it had been a long day everyone turned in by about 10.
The next day not many people got up to watch the sunrise. However quite a few people were up by seven and were waiting for breakfast in the food tent. When most of the group was awake we began breakfast. There was really good coffee, tea or hot chocolate followed by bread and pancakes with orange and a bit of caramel sauce on the top.
After breakfast we packed everything up and began hiking down the mountain. It warmed up quickly in the morning and we hiked at a good pace. We stopped for a snack at gorgeous ancient Incan ruins. We had oranges and Choko Sodas and rested for a little while. We continued hiking down to the place where we would stop for lunch. The group was pretty good at staying together and everyone helped each other get past fears of heights / slippery parts of the climb down.
We stopped for lunch close to 12. Our group sat in the food tent for shade and played Uno / Bananagrams until lunch was served. First we had a squash soup and then spaghetti with meat sauce. Immediately after lunch a small group went down immediately to the town and the rest of us relaxed for a while longer. When we continued down we made it to the bottom quickly without much stopping. Then we waited for the mules to bring down our bags for about half an hour and then we all walked our separate ways back to our home stays.
The hike was a good chance for us to experience many firsts – from camping at 12,500 feet to seeing the Milky Way. Everyone was safe and had a really good time. The group stuck together and showed determination and a positive attitude throughout the whole thing.
Eriche Sarvey
The hike began bright and early Saturday morning at roughly 7:30 a.m. We walked about a mile to the mules where we unloaded our sleeping bags and heavy backpacks. Then we proceeded onwards with our light backpacks up until about 10 o’ clock where we stopped for a light snack near Incan ruins. After snacking we waited for lunch. Some of the group napped and others played bananagrams or engaged in conversation. Then we had a light lunch of cheese sandwiches with onions, mushrooms and tomatoes. Then we rested for a little while and continued up the mountain generally staying together until we reached the top. We reached the campsite at about 3 in the afternoon.
Once we got to the campsite, we unloaded the mules and set up our tents. Then we relaxed by playing card games like Uno or Bridge or by playing charades. We played for a while and the games got really intense and competitive. Then we had an afternoon tea which consisted of popcorn, crackers and of course, tea that the guides provided in our food tent. After tea we played some more card games / charades and put on more layers as the sun set and the temperature plummeted rapidly. Then when it got dark a few of us stargazed and identified the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, a few planets, satellites and shooting stars. We even renamed some unidentified constellations. The sky was beautiful and it was amazing to see the stars so clearly at 12,500 feet.
Then we had dinner which was soup followed by rice and chicken. After dinner some people turned in early while others stargazed more and hung around by the campfire. Since it had been a long day everyone turned in by about 10.
The next day not many people got up to watch the sunrise. However quite a few people were up by seven and were waiting for breakfast in the food tent. When most of the group was awake we began breakfast. There was really good coffee, tea or hot chocolate followed by bread and pancakes with orange and a bit of caramel sauce on the top.
After breakfast we packed everything up and began hiking down the mountain. It warmed up quickly in the morning and we hiked at a good pace. We stopped for a snack at gorgeous ancient Incan ruins. We had oranges and Choko Sodas and rested for a little while. We continued hiking down to the place where we would stop for lunch. The group was pretty good at staying together and everyone helped each other get past fears of heights / slippery parts of the climb down.
We stopped for lunch close to 12. Our group sat in the food tent for shade and played Uno / Bananagrams until lunch was served. First we had a squash soup and then spaghetti with meat sauce. Immediately after lunch a small group went down immediately to the town and the rest of us relaxed for a while longer. When we continued down we made it to the bottom quickly without much stopping. Then we waited for the mules to bring down our bags for about half an hour and then we all walked our separate ways back to our home stays.
The hike was a good chance for us to experience many firsts – from camping at 12,500 feet to seeing the Milky Way. Everyone was safe and had a really good time. The group stuck together and showed determination and a positive attitude throughout the whole thing.
Eriche Sarvey
Friday, July 17, 2009
A wonderful day. Following is a quick comment writen by each student. Enjoy. We are off to the mountains for the next two days. FB
One thing for sure, this trip is definitely the best experience I had so far. I meet incredible people and I love my host family. I hope to come back !!!!!
--Kirsti Aventurin
I love Peru! One and a half weeks down, one and a half to go. The whole village is related to my host family, and it’s amazing how friendly everyone is (much different than back home). Everyday is a new experience….que chevere!!
--Mike Storace
I don’t think I have ever been as dirty as I am right now, or as happy to be dirty. Everyday we are covered in paint, dirt, and plaster and I love it! Everyone has really come together as a group and it’s so rewarding to be helping the community.
--Julia Haney
Ollantaytambo is an incredibly loving and colorful village, and everyone in our group has woven themselves into the working of the village by means of leadership, our host families, and the Tierra de Niños construction project. It has been incredible to not only watch but also to enjoy this process. Nothing here has been anything less than wonderful.
--Chloe Fross
Ollantytambo is absolutely beautiful. Everyday at least one person comments about how the mountains look like something on a post card. All the people, especially the children, are incredibly friendly and always ready to help. Living in the village has shown me not only how lucky we are, but how wasteful we are. Living here has been eye opening.
--Abby Morss
It’s incredible to be back in Ollantaytambo again! Today we had a great day of productive work, and I’m so proud of all the work that we’ve been doing on the Tierra de Niños project. Julia, Jajairy, and I have really bonded with our family too, and they have been so warm to us (especially our mother, Senora Toya, who will literally fight us to do the dishes). Returning to our homestay families after work everyday feels like we are actually going home, and I’m really happy to be here.
--Jane Bang
Coming to Ollantaytambo, Peru, has been one of the best, most life-changing experiences I have ever encountered. I am so happy to have been able to come with this group of wonderful people, and been able to experience the truly loving community, who will extend themselves even to strangers, the children who devotedly support their families, and the pure and awe-filled beauty of the landscape. Thank you to everyone who has made this experience what it is so far – I can’t wait for more!
--Julia Metzger
Ollantaytambo is one the most loving and caring places I’ve ever been. Everyone in the community is willing to help you with anything and you say good morning to everyone on the street. The children are an inspiration. They love helping out on the worksite, and are mature far beyond their age. Half the children I’ve met I want to take home! This place is inspiring.
--Molly Belsky
Hi. We’ve been working pretty hard at the work site and also hiking since we’ve arrived. It’s been fun, yet a lot of hard work. I’m liking it a lot.
--Kayode Dansalami
I really don’t think that words can explain our experience so far. Between the people, the work and the playing, it has been a truly different and exhilarating experience for me. Ollantay is an unforgettable place and I dread the day we need to leave.
---Zach Baharozian
I have really had the time of my life, between working at the school, playing soccer with the locals, and interacting with my host family. I have learnt so much thus far, and am looking forward to the next one and a half weeks. Leaving will be a sad experience.
--William Goodenough
Writing this I realized that the trip is half-way over, yet I feel like it has only been a few days. I have really liked working at the school and I am really excited for the overnight hike. I also had a wonderful 15th birthday that I will never forget.
--Cullen Coleman
I am not a native speaker of Spanish; however, I am learning a lot. For example, the 8 year old boy in my home stay reminded me that “pero” (but) is not the same word as “perro” (dog), so for a while I was saying the word “dog” every time I tried to make a compound sentence … a little bit awkward. I love Spanish now, and I keep mixing up English and Spanish. Yay. I love this trip, and I’m having a lot of fun.
-- Zoe Silverman
Despite airplane layovers, multiple stomach aches and interesting encounters with “toros fuertes” (strong bulls) in the streets, the entire group has remained in good spirits. Without hesitation I will say that my experience here in Peru has encompassed every meaning to the words “community service!”
--Jack (Rusty) Cohen
It’s been amazing so far and I love Ollanta. This group has come together really well and it has been awesome!
--Eriche Sarvay
I am loving the way everybody is working together as a team and giving different ideas.
--Rosanna Rodriguez
I love every single thing that happens every day, and the experience is just amazing.
--Jajairy Fong
The group is coming together well, and so is our service project. The food is better than I thought, and I can’t wait for the rest of the trip to unfold.
--Kyle Ortiz
Doing well, working hard. I saw a shooting star, and I’m getting a great workout.
--Jeremy Santiago
Having a great time, doing a good job working. A very different experience for me.
--Joshua Santiago
Getting to know my host family. We have become really close over the past week; I can’t imagine leaving right now.
--Michael Corkrum
I’m having a great time and I’m feeling much better from being sick. I’m really happy that the service project we are doing is showing a lot of progress.
--Jenny Min
I’m having an amazing time! My homestay family is very nice. The day hike was very beautiful and a great experience. It’s great to get to know everyone in the group! The time has flown by, and I’m having so much fun!
--Michelle Murphy
--Kirsti Aventurin
I love Peru! One and a half weeks down, one and a half to go. The whole village is related to my host family, and it’s amazing how friendly everyone is (much different than back home). Everyday is a new experience….que chevere!!
--Mike Storace
I don’t think I have ever been as dirty as I am right now, or as happy to be dirty. Everyday we are covered in paint, dirt, and plaster and I love it! Everyone has really come together as a group and it’s so rewarding to be helping the community.
--Julia Haney
Ollantaytambo is an incredibly loving and colorful village, and everyone in our group has woven themselves into the working of the village by means of leadership, our host families, and the Tierra de Niños construction project. It has been incredible to not only watch but also to enjoy this process. Nothing here has been anything less than wonderful.
--Chloe Fross
Ollantytambo is absolutely beautiful. Everyday at least one person comments about how the mountains look like something on a post card. All the people, especially the children, are incredibly friendly and always ready to help. Living in the village has shown me not only how lucky we are, but how wasteful we are. Living here has been eye opening.
--Abby Morss
It’s incredible to be back in Ollantaytambo again! Today we had a great day of productive work, and I’m so proud of all the work that we’ve been doing on the Tierra de Niños project. Julia, Jajairy, and I have really bonded with our family too, and they have been so warm to us (especially our mother, Senora Toya, who will literally fight us to do the dishes). Returning to our homestay families after work everyday feels like we are actually going home, and I’m really happy to be here.
--Jane Bang
Coming to Ollantaytambo, Peru, has been one of the best, most life-changing experiences I have ever encountered. I am so happy to have been able to come with this group of wonderful people, and been able to experience the truly loving community, who will extend themselves even to strangers, the children who devotedly support their families, and the pure and awe-filled beauty of the landscape. Thank you to everyone who has made this experience what it is so far – I can’t wait for more!
--Julia Metzger
Ollantaytambo is one the most loving and caring places I’ve ever been. Everyone in the community is willing to help you with anything and you say good morning to everyone on the street. The children are an inspiration. They love helping out on the worksite, and are mature far beyond their age. Half the children I’ve met I want to take home! This place is inspiring.
--Molly Belsky
Hi. We’ve been working pretty hard at the work site and also hiking since we’ve arrived. It’s been fun, yet a lot of hard work. I’m liking it a lot.
--Kayode Dansalami
I really don’t think that words can explain our experience so far. Between the people, the work and the playing, it has been a truly different and exhilarating experience for me. Ollantay is an unforgettable place and I dread the day we need to leave.
---Zach Baharozian
I have really had the time of my life, between working at the school, playing soccer with the locals, and interacting with my host family. I have learnt so much thus far, and am looking forward to the next one and a half weeks. Leaving will be a sad experience.
--William Goodenough
Writing this I realized that the trip is half-way over, yet I feel like it has only been a few days. I have really liked working at the school and I am really excited for the overnight hike. I also had a wonderful 15th birthday that I will never forget.
--Cullen Coleman
I am not a native speaker of Spanish; however, I am learning a lot. For example, the 8 year old boy in my home stay reminded me that “pero” (but) is not the same word as “perro” (dog), so for a while I was saying the word “dog” every time I tried to make a compound sentence … a little bit awkward. I love Spanish now, and I keep mixing up English and Spanish. Yay. I love this trip, and I’m having a lot of fun.
-- Zoe Silverman
Despite airplane layovers, multiple stomach aches and interesting encounters with “toros fuertes” (strong bulls) in the streets, the entire group has remained in good spirits. Without hesitation I will say that my experience here in Peru has encompassed every meaning to the words “community service!”
--Jack (Rusty) Cohen
It’s been amazing so far and I love Ollanta. This group has come together really well and it has been awesome!
--Eriche Sarvay
I am loving the way everybody is working together as a team and giving different ideas.
--Rosanna Rodriguez
I love every single thing that happens every day, and the experience is just amazing.
--Jajairy Fong
The group is coming together well, and so is our service project. The food is better than I thought, and I can’t wait for the rest of the trip to unfold.
--Kyle Ortiz
Doing well, working hard. I saw a shooting star, and I’m getting a great workout.
--Jeremy Santiago
Having a great time, doing a good job working. A very different experience for me.
--Joshua Santiago
Getting to know my host family. We have become really close over the past week; I can’t imagine leaving right now.
--Michael Corkrum
I’m having a great time and I’m feeling much better from being sick. I’m really happy that the service project we are doing is showing a lot of progress.
--Jenny Min
I’m having an amazing time! My homestay family is very nice. The day hike was very beautiful and a great experience. It’s great to get to know everyone in the group! The time has flown by, and I’m having so much fun!
--Michelle Murphy
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