Sad and Happy to Say Goodbye

Today was our last day at placements and our last day in Ayacucho. We will be flying out to Lima early tomorrow morning and if all goes well, continuing on to Cusco in the afternoon. The end of our time here elicits a mixture of emotions: I am so grateful to have had this experience, I have met some incredible people both in the house and out, and I have connected with some of the children at the school so that leaving them forever is difficult. But I also am sort of over communal living, am relieved to be done at the school which is incredibly draining, and ready to see other parts of Peru, most notably the incredible ruins of Macchu Picchu. The food at the homebase is good to a point, one can only be so creative when trying to please 20 very different palates. The trip has been eyeopening and unforgettable for the kids, but it has also taken a lot out of me as far as making sure everything is in order in general, and then the worry of Wyatt being sick. I think for me, I could give a bit more of myself to the placement if I were on my own (not something I wish to be for even a moment) as there is a finite amount of care that each of us can bestow on others before we run dry. One thing (among many) that I have taken from this is that I would like to go home and (after our move) volunteer in some of the more difficult schools in California on a regular basis. Though there are different circumstances and different reasons, there are schools in the US with many of the same issues I am facing here in Peru. And my only regret is that I can't be a positive influence for these children continuously, something I can definitely do in California.

Yesterday, we were given the chance to visit the prison where we picked up the toddlers that are jailed with their mothers and took them on an outing to the Plaza Mayor. This was a treat for me because I had really wanted to see firsthand what the prison system was all about. The men and women are kept separate for the most part though they are allowed some time together. The women sit in an open courtyard where they do their laundry, cook for themselves, and make beautiful handicrafts to sell. There is also a tiny store run by the women where they can buy snacks and drinks. I am always frustrated by my inability to speak Spanish fluently, but today it absolutely killed me. I so wanted to be able to have meaningful conversations with these women, many of whom seemed very willing to talk about their situations. But I really can't get much past the basic conversational niceties. Only more inspiration to practice when I am at home. We took eight children out with us, I got a three year old bundle of cuddles named Cheena. She just clung to me as most of the other children did to the other volunteers. I can only imagine how odd this must be for them. These children have seen nothing but the inside of the prison for the majority of their lives except when volunteers take them on weekly one hour trips out into the world. I look nothing like the people Cheena is used to seeing, and I couldn't speak her language very well. But all in all she was a pretty good sport, only trying to run away from me once and falling asleep on my lap on the way home.

That afternoon, we made up for missing our Monday placement by visiting the asilo, or old people's home, for a few hours. Actually, I only stayed for about a half hour because as some of you may be aware, that is not my favorite place to be. But it was interesting to see and the elderly women there were precious. The facility is run by nuns and the 60 women pay nothing to live there. The facility is gorgeous and immaculately clean. All the women looked very well cared for which was so nice to see. But Rudy told us later that the building was built with donations from congregations in various places and the nuns have no ongoing source of income to take care of the elderly men and women so the nuns have to beg on the street for food and money. How awful. Seems like a less extravagant building and more money for care would be in order.

This morning Eddie woke up with "the cleanse" so he missed his last day of placement which truthfully, I don't think he was too broken up about. He has had a hard time finding a niche for himself here though I think he has enjoyed the interaction with the other volunteers in the house. And I know his time at the various places has impacted him though exactly how may not be evident for awhile. He is spending his last hours here lounging in bed, eating soda crackers, and trying to gather strength for a last round of chess with the housemates. I think he'll make it.

Christin and I headed to the "real" market (the one where locals go) today to get a couple of things. I have to say, fun as it is in there, it smelled horrific. People are cooking who knows what next to stands of grains, fruit, and every sort of meat you could want to find (or not). I love it and I wish that I had the guts to go in and eat there like the locals, but I just can't quite do it. And that's OK. I think I will head back to the room and try to stuff six bags worth of gear and souvenirs into four bags and maybe write some notes about the school for the next set of volunteers. Hope for no rain for us tomorrow since if there is any, we will be spending quite a bit of time in the airport....

Jenny

P.S. We bought a pineapple and brought it back to the house for everyone to have for lunch today.....it was so good!