Pucallpa: Day 3

   We just got back from a trip to Ica, where we attended the district conference for a day and got to see a ton of tourist spots. However, Pucallpa is still on my mind. Our third day in Pucallpa was an exciting, yet relaxed day. We took a 3 hour bus ride to a waterfall called the bride's veil. It's a common picnic spot, so we ate lunch there too. Most everyone swam in the freezing water, but there were quite a few Peruvian boys there, so I didn't feel very comfortable in a swim suit. The Peruvians tend to take pictures of us, even fully clothed, so I didn't really want to give them something to have on their computers forever. It was a really pretty day though, so I helped make lunch then just relaxed. 

The welcome sign! 

It really did look like a bride's veil.

Exchange students!

   That night we got to go to a discoteca in Pucallpa. It was packed full!! I danced a bit, but started feeling funny at 1am, so I slept in the car until everyone was tired out. I didn't really like the crowd that much either. Way too many people in way too little space. 

L

Pucallpa: Day 2

      Our second day in Pucallpa was nothing too crazy. We started the day by going to a cafeteria for the poor children in Pucallpa. It's supported by a huge church and they serve a ton of meals. The kids that go there put on a little performance for us to say that you for the visit and support. We spent the rest of the day relaxing at my host 'grandparents' house swimming and chilling with the doggies. 

Main church in the square.

The kids singing.

Dukie!

   We relaxed the rest of the day until Rotary. It was pretty uneventful, but I did win a little cow that holds eggs. 

Here she is.

I think my favorite part of the day was buying new shoes! I had to replace my poor tennis shoes.

L

PUCALLPA!!

  From May 2-8th, the group of crazy exchange students took a trip to the jungle city of Pucallpa. Pucallpa also happens to be the original home of both of my host parents, so I've heard a bit about it, and I got some advantages. Our flight was fun, but the small plane moved too much for my taste and I had a small panic attack. No biggie though, just hyperventilation and arrhythmia...  

Our tiny plane!

   We had a Rotary meeting the first night when we arrived and we just spent the time after we arrived in Pucallpa, relaxing and settling in. The next day we went into full tour mode. We took a giant tour of the Laguna Yarinacocha making some stops along the banks in tourist towns. Our first stop was in San Francisco to buy artesanias. 

Piranha in San Francisco.

   We went to our next stop which resulted in a fun trek in the jungle, but first we had to pass by the home on the island, where they keep a Black Spider Monkey as a pet. She was so cute, and a bit frightened. She just wanted to be let free to cuddle. I made my usual cooing sounds that I make at every animal I see and she responded with some little squeaks!  

Look how sweet and vulnerable. I never wanted to leave her. 

   The jungle tour was cool too! We got to see a ton of medicinal plants that they still use, from wrinkle creams to parasite removal. We all drank from 'Cat's nail' which has a water inside that is healing. Our main goal was to reach a 300 year-old Lahuangana tree. To do that, we had to cross some pretty deep streams using a log that was usually cut down right in front of us by a guide. Those machetes are sharp!  

Carter drinking from the 'Cat's nail' 

In front of the huge, old tree!

   Thankfully, our next stop was lunch! We went to a tourist restaurant at another stop that had all sorts of animals and even a pool. It was a super cool place and the food was great. I had juane, which is a traditional dish from the jungle made of seasoned rice with chicken, wrapped up and cooked in banana leaves. I also shared some fried alligator, which was delicious! Of course, the animals were my favorite part though. There was a Capuchin monkey, some cool birds, two huge boas, and baby alligators.  

Baby gator! 

NOT baby boa! He weighed a ton!

   We hit a really shabby zoo next, which a bit sad, but the animals were so interesting. My favorite was the Woolly Monkey! She kind of jumped unexpectedly onto Mackenzie, who freaked out a bit. I pulled the sweet thing off of her and got a monkey on my head instead. Then she hung out with us for a while before we headed back to Pucallpa to sleep. We had a great first day in the jungle! 

Rachel with the monkey hat.

L

Pucallpa!

We're going to Pucallpa in the jungle today! In a PLANE!! We get back the 8th!!
L

Falda de Marinera!!

I just got my new Marinera skirt!!!! It's soooooooo beautiful! I have a class presentation on May 14th, so I'm super excited to have my new skirt to dance with.

L

Wheelchair Project

   Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday of last week were some of the best days of my life! It was Rotary Club San Borja Sur's annual Wheelchair Foundation project. 24 Texas Rotarians joined us for the week and went with us to all of the ceremonies. Our first day, we went to the National Military Hospital where we gave 150 wheelchairs to veterans and military families. That day was filled with ceremony mostly. As exchange students, our official duty there was to translate for the Texans to the Peruvians. I was on a team with Martha and Guy the first day. I had a speech from them to say to each person receiving a chair about how God is sending his love through the chair and through Rotary. Martha also asked me to ask the families if she could pray with them, and of course they all wanted to. They also gave out bibles to the families and patients. Their presence was such a warm one that lifted the needy up. 

   The president of Peru, Ollanta Humala, was supposed to make an appearance, but because of a last minute ordeal in Cusco, had to cancel. I was disappointed after getting so excited to meet him. The ceremony went on though, with a high ranking officer. They showed us 4 traditional Peruvian dances and there were a ton a speeches which pretty much all said the same thing.     

The huge group of recipients with their new wheelchairs. 

   Day 2 was when we really got to give chairs to the poorest people. Manchay is a part of the district of Pachacamac, so we took a tour of the ruins in Pachacamac in the morning and then boarded the bus to the Central Square of Manchay. We had 63 chairs to give that day. For the second, easier half of the ceremony I was the general translator, and I also was with Martha and Guy again. I also helped some other groups since we were a little short of exchange students that day. The faith is very strong in Manchay, so almost everyone wanted to seek out the prayers of the gringos. 

The extravagant town square stuck in with the poverty.  

The cathedral in Manchay. 

   Our last day of service was Saturday when we went up to Ventanilla. We'd been there before for a medical clinic and for Christmas. We left the house early and got to the clinic just in time to be split into groups. This time I was with Beverly, the project leader from Texas, and her daughter Lauren. We were with the littlest kids with the hardest disabilities. In total Rotary and the Wheelchair Foundation gave away 150 chairs on Saturday as well. 

   I was the official ceremony translator for the third day, which was way harder than it looks! I did okay, but I would have liked to be perfect. I did get a ton of practice though, and that's good for me. 

Tiny wheels... 

Getting pumped to translate.

This is me translating.... badly. 

Relaxing at lunch.

   It was hard saying goodbye to the Texans when I left the after-party. I know I'll be taking a big trip down there soon! I had a wonderful week!

L

Oxapampa Day 2

  After our crazy first day in Oxapampa, I was ready to keep going! We drove out to the tribe called Tsachopen where they mostly just dress up for tourists. It was really fun to see some of their crafts and original costumes. 

A truck got stuck, so we all helped out so we could pass.

They tried to teach me how to shoot, but I stunk. 

The tribe leader as of now. 

   We all piled back in the car to go to a little ranch. Their big appeal is the fact that they have Emus! They were very tame Emus and we all got to pet them. My favorite part there was the little Tigrillo that was at the other end. 

So pretty!!

   We went out to the big rodeo next, which was definitely my favorite part of the trip! There was a big rainbow before we got there. There was bull-riding of little bulls ridden by little boys, and adult bulls with the big 'vaqueros.' They also did something called the tumba where 2 men wrestled down a bull. I loved the whole rodeo, including the hot cowboys! 

Great, huge, full rainbow! 

My seat for the rodeo because I couldn't see from the ground... too many people.  

I think the bull won! 

However, the cowboys get him down in the next round.

Tug of war!!

   We met up with some old friends of my padres at the rodeo and we went to their beautiful vintage house after. The kids played with other kids and I talked with Otilia. 

I just loved the pink beday. 

Brunito playing around!

  We left Oxapampa early the next morning for the long drive back to Lima. I had a great time on the trip. We even got to hit the highest part of road in all of Peru!  

Scary tunnel!! 

Highest point of road in Peru!

L