Semana dos en Cusco
My Dove dark chocolate wrapper told me this week: "you are exactly where you are supposed to be." I agree with this for right now because this experience has allowed me to share my resources and expertise while learning to speak Spanish and being out of my comfort Zone without some of the amenities I'm used to in the US. It has also forced me to have friendships and form bonds with people very different than me and often don't even speak my native language.
Today I had the opportunity to run a workshop for teachers on strategiEs
and activities in their classroom to help with fine motor development, sensory processing, and whole brain learning. They were very receptive and engaged and I so appreciated their time. Many of them are already doing well with the resources available. Last night at the school they held a meeting/ support group for the parents of the students. When you work with kids with disabilities, you don't just take on the kids, but you take on their families and all the baggage that might come with it. I'm seeing how important it is to address all the parts of the issue and the person. For example, alcoholism, poverty, and abuse are huge problems here and definitely play a role in disability. Therefore addressing those issues could help in further prevention and awareness of disability.
There are many needs to be addressed here.... And everywhere. And it encourages me to meet so many people involved in the cause.
I'm currently reading Henry Nouwen's "Life of the Beloved" and in that book he encourages a newspaper journalist who is discontent in his job to quit his job to do the thing he loves.. Which was to write a novel, but the journalist replied he didn't have the time or money to do that. Henry Nouwen replied, "you are free to do what you want - if that is you really want it." My hope is that I can continue to seek out experiences and people that continue to give me perspective on life and help to create an awareness and love for all people. I recently finished the book The Help, and was also inspired by the women in the book who jeopardized her social status to create an awareness of the inequality and mistreatment of black Americans in the 1960s. It's hard for me to believe that such injustice was occurring in our country just 50 years ago. I am thankful for my teachers and parents teaching me to have intolerance for such racism, prejudices, and mistreatment.
Yesterday, I went on a community outing with a group of young adults at the school with disabilities. Part of the purpose of these outings are to teach the students some functional skills, while also exposing the community to people with disabilities. We went to a sports complex with playing fields and courts. The place was full of athletes and we engaged in some basketball and futbol of our own. When we were there, and even out walking out in the town .. And on the public bus, many people were staring. I'm not sure if it was because there was a group of young adults with disabilities or if it was because there was a white girl with a group of peruvians. I think it was most likely the first reason because peruvians are used to having tourists here all the time. Regardless, being around people with disabilities is still a new uncomfortable thing for a lot of people and by exposing them to the outside world, we are bettering society and allowing people to become more comfortable with these beautiful people.
Overall progress is happening here, and I am encouraged by it. I look forward to what this next week will bring.
Ciao!
Today I had the opportunity to run a workshop for teachers on strategiEs
and activities in their classroom to help with fine motor development, sensory processing, and whole brain learning. They were very receptive and engaged and I so appreciated their time. Many of them are already doing well with the resources available. Last night at the school they held a meeting/ support group for the parents of the students. When you work with kids with disabilities, you don't just take on the kids, but you take on their families and all the baggage that might come with it. I'm seeing how important it is to address all the parts of the issue and the person. For example, alcoholism, poverty, and abuse are huge problems here and definitely play a role in disability. Therefore addressing those issues could help in further prevention and awareness of disability.
There are many needs to be addressed here.... And everywhere. And it encourages me to meet so many people involved in the cause.
I'm currently reading Henry Nouwen's "Life of the Beloved" and in that book he encourages a newspaper journalist who is discontent in his job to quit his job to do the thing he loves.. Which was to write a novel, but the journalist replied he didn't have the time or money to do that. Henry Nouwen replied, "you are free to do what you want - if that is you really want it." My hope is that I can continue to seek out experiences and people that continue to give me perspective on life and help to create an awareness and love for all people. I recently finished the book The Help, and was also inspired by the women in the book who jeopardized her social status to create an awareness of the inequality and mistreatment of black Americans in the 1960s. It's hard for me to believe that such injustice was occurring in our country just 50 years ago. I am thankful for my teachers and parents teaching me to have intolerance for such racism, prejudices, and mistreatment.
Yesterday, I went on a community outing with a group of young adults at the school with disabilities. Part of the purpose of these outings are to teach the students some functional skills, while also exposing the community to people with disabilities. We went to a sports complex with playing fields and courts. The place was full of athletes and we engaged in some basketball and futbol of our own. When we were there, and even out walking out in the town .. And on the public bus, many people were staring. I'm not sure if it was because there was a group of young adults with disabilities or if it was because there was a white girl with a group of peruvians. I think it was most likely the first reason because peruvians are used to having tourists here all the time. Regardless, being around people with disabilities is still a new uncomfortable thing for a lot of people and by exposing them to the outside world, we are bettering society and allowing people to become more comfortable with these beautiful people.
Overall progress is happening here, and I am encouraged by it. I look forward to what this next week will bring.
Ciao!
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