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| The Therapy room at Manos Unidas |
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| Asiya & I at Sacsayhuaman |
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| Out with Maite & Asiya |
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| 3 of the students in the younger autism classroom at Camino Nuevo |
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| At Wachuma reggae bar with Maite, Asiya, and Sandra |
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| Universal cuffs I made for the classroom with children with Cerebral Palsy |
Hola y buena tardes de Cusco. My time here has been very satisfying and interesting. Traveling alone really forces me to branch out and meet people and get to know people who are different from me. It´s been so encouraging and rewarding to meet people from all over the world with various different backgrounds, while learning the culture and getting to know many Cusquenians and Peruvians. I had to say goodbye to my volunteer buddy, Asiya last night. She is a physical therapist in Baltimore, Maryland. She taught me a new appreciation for Reggae music and was my travel buddy around Cusco. I´ve also been spending time with two girls from Spain who are doing a education psychology practicum at the school I am volunteering at. They are very patient with me and help me with my Spanish.. and it actually forces me to speak in Spanish if I want to converse with them! My Spanish is certainly getting better- but their seem to be misunderstandings everyday. I´m able to communicate a lot of what I need to, and I am understanding more and more.. but people sure do speak fast.. and I don´t always speak with the best grammar or pronunciation. This experience has certainly been good for my learning though. Above is a photo of my volunteer friends at Wachuma, a Reggae bar in Cusco.
This week, I had the opportunity to visit, help out, and consult at a public school in Cusco for children with disabilities. Kids with disabilities in Cusco are very much separated from their typical peers still. Inclusion is a new concept that they are beginning to adapt. The teachers were very welcoming, and many had questions for me about specific students. There doesn´t seem to quite enough help or teachers aides in the classrooms with the younger kids, so it seemed more like teachers were running around trying to do everything- while kids were getting into things they weren´t supposed to be. But they are providing a structure for them and free education. The children are also very much loved as well.
At Camino Nuevo, the school I am volunteering at, teachers are being trained and given tools constantly by the directors. It is always a work in progress though. In the past couple of weeks, they have had two meetings for parents to set up a support group for them and give them more training with their kids. It´s encouraging to hear that the parents are really taking this on, and using each other for support. It´s sure not easy being a parent of a child with a disability. I only have 3 more days at the school next week because it is Peru´s independence day next Thursday & Friday, so we get the days off. They like to celebrate everything here in Peru, which is fun! Below is a picture with some of the students with Cerebral Palsy with the teacher, and their caregivers and parents, as well as one of the volunteers from Spain. We were celebrating her birthday. I was able to make some universal cuffs for those kiddos this week with some of the donated supplies I brought to help them with writing, painting and drawing. I will add a picture of those later!
I am getting excited for my friends, Erin, Matt, Jessye, and Jill to come visit next Friday and go to Machu Picchu. I spent this weekend going to a couple of ruins and museums, but it will be great to do more when they get here! Cusco is certainly a beautiful place to visit.
Ciao friends and family! I am missing you guys and look forward to seeing everyone when I return in 10 days or so. I´m also looking forward to warm showers, being able to speak the same language as everyone, and water pressure :)!
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~Ciao Bella