day 3 and onwards
Day one of my work placement which is at a "wa wa wasi " which translates to baby house. This is a government subsidised programme and there about 150 in total in Ayacucho. Basically itswhat is best described in Angelas Ashes for those of you that read that will know what I m talking about, WE would not keep our anomals in them. A mother gives over a room or shed for daycare for up to 8 kids ranging in age from 9 months to 5 years .For this the government subsidy is a grand total of 1 euro per day, yes you read that correctly one euro per day.
We drove through the pot holed streets of Ayacucho ( which is a bit like what we know Sarajevo to be like 20 year civil war ended ten years ago and the place looks like it ended yesterday.)to the end of the concrete and then the dirt tracks began, now its rainy season here right now so these dirt tracks are pure mud . The whole village I m working in has no roads as we know them or pathways just thick mucky trails.I got out of the TRUCK on my first day and squelched my way across to a corrugated gate that opened to an equally mucky laneway to my wa wa wasi which was to be my workplace for the next 3 weeks.
Wilma was the "mammy" as the kids call her was sitting on the floor breast feeding a baby , the rain was torrential that day and the roof has a million holes in it and many buckets were collecting the water that was pouring in. Supply wise, they had feck all so I was very glad of the suitcase of stuff I had accumulated from early learning centres before I left. I dont think I have ever seen so much excitement over new things to play with and do.
I n this "shed" and in this whole village there is no running water no toilets the conditions are indescribable. When the kids want to go to the bathroom, they sit on a potty in the mucky lane and wash their hands in a very grubby plastic basin. The 11/12 year olds are not considered kids anymore and do tall the family washing by hand in a basin and it is not uncommon for 8/9 year olds to be in charge of babies as young as 8 months for a whole day at home alone.
Communication is tough, my Spanish is crap but I am trying sooo hard listening to Michel thomas at crack of dawn and having Spanish lessons 3 times a week. All the kids are truly adorable you really would like to run away with them, extremelyaffectionate and so eager to learn new things. Unfortunately they are all suffering from very bad colds, and coughs due to the weather conditions and the housing.-
The stories back at the 2gringo" house later from all the other volunteers were unbelievable as I said earlier , nothing could have prepared usfor the comnditions we have encountered.
The Government here is totally corrupt ( whats new there ) and yhe cocoa leaf trade ie cocaine is collosal. But is a means of survival for the country people - Mind blowing or what ????
I cant beliecve how little free time I have as some of you reading this know I have barely had time to take a call. My dat begins at 6 and ends abou r ten. The Ayacucuns are apparently big party people but I havent had the inclination or the erergy to partake in antthing afte ten. Theres a carnival her on Monday which we have been learning salsa dancing for so that might be the biggy !!
O n Saturday I m off for a 2 day llama trek up the mountains at 14000 feet, slleping out in a cabin so that should be quite an experience.
I have organised my trip to Cusco at the end of my 3 weeks and my trek to machu pichu cant wait for that and have booked myself into an all singing all dancing hotel for the last night. I think I ll deserve it by then !!
I have taken a ton of photos ( surprise surprise ) and as soon as I havea bit of free time I ll post them here for you all to see.
ADIOS AMIGOS XXX
We drove through the pot holed streets of Ayacucho ( which is a bit like what we know Sarajevo to be like 20 year civil war ended ten years ago and the place looks like it ended yesterday.)to the end of the concrete and then the dirt tracks began, now its rainy season here right now so these dirt tracks are pure mud . The whole village I m working in has no roads as we know them or pathways just thick mucky trails.I got out of the TRUCK on my first day and squelched my way across to a corrugated gate that opened to an equally mucky laneway to my wa wa wasi which was to be my workplace for the next 3 weeks.
Wilma was the "mammy" as the kids call her was sitting on the floor breast feeding a baby , the rain was torrential that day and the roof has a million holes in it and many buckets were collecting the water that was pouring in. Supply wise, they had feck all so I was very glad of the suitcase of stuff I had accumulated from early learning centres before I left. I dont think I have ever seen so much excitement over new things to play with and do.
I n this "shed" and in this whole village there is no running water no toilets the conditions are indescribable. When the kids want to go to the bathroom, they sit on a potty in the mucky lane and wash their hands in a very grubby plastic basin. The 11/12 year olds are not considered kids anymore and do tall the family washing by hand in a basin and it is not uncommon for 8/9 year olds to be in charge of babies as young as 8 months for a whole day at home alone.
Communication is tough, my Spanish is crap but I am trying sooo hard listening to Michel thomas at crack of dawn and having Spanish lessons 3 times a week. All the kids are truly adorable you really would like to run away with them, extremelyaffectionate and so eager to learn new things. Unfortunately they are all suffering from very bad colds, and coughs due to the weather conditions and the housing.-
The stories back at the 2gringo" house later from all the other volunteers were unbelievable as I said earlier , nothing could have prepared usfor the comnditions we have encountered.
The Government here is totally corrupt ( whats new there ) and yhe cocoa leaf trade ie cocaine is collosal. But is a means of survival for the country people - Mind blowing or what ????
I cant beliecve how little free time I have as some of you reading this know I have barely had time to take a call. My dat begins at 6 and ends abou r ten. The Ayacucuns are apparently big party people but I havent had the inclination or the erergy to partake in antthing afte ten. Theres a carnival her on Monday which we have been learning salsa dancing for so that might be the biggy !!
O n Saturday I m off for a 2 day llama trek up the mountains at 14000 feet, slleping out in a cabin so that should be quite an experience.
I have organised my trip to Cusco at the end of my 3 weeks and my trek to machu pichu cant wait for that and have booked myself into an all singing all dancing hotel for the last night. I think I ll deserve it by then !!
I have taken a ton of photos ( surprise surprise ) and as soon as I havea bit of free time I ll post them here for you all to see.
ADIOS AMIGOS XXX
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