Friends

The Clausura

Our Class

Dancing the huaylas in costumes from Huancayo.

Christine, Taylor, and Calen dance the Marinera with Jose Martin Palacios, the instructor in Folklore.

Receiving diplomas at the closing ceremony.

Campus of San Martin de Porres in Santa Anita

Las Leyendas

At the Zoo

Art Exhibition at Club Terrazas

This is an exhibition of Peruvian and North American artists, organized by the Lima/Austin Sister Cities Committee.

Train to and from Huancayo

By Taylor Flanagan

--The service - The staff was very friendly and spoke both English and very clearly pronounced Spanish (good for practicing).
--Food - There weren't any vegetarian options.
--Party Car - The last car on the train had a little bar and music and a lovely view. It was really fun to try dancing as the car rocked (and jerked) back and forth.
--The mountains - The mountains were beautiful and it was made even more amazing by the fact that we could see the sun for the first time since we arrived.
--The towns - There were lots of little towns by the tracks and (since the train only runs about once a month) the people that saw the train pass by would wave excitedly and follow along sometimes with their children.
--The cactus - There were fields and fields of cactus plants that were being farmed for the little bugs that stay on them (they are used for red dyes).
--The farming - There were these crops that were made on the these different levels so they looked like big green steps along the mountains. This is apparently done so that different kinds of crops can be grown at once (in the different altitudes).
--Jesus - There were white statues of jesus everywhere.
--Altitude Sickness - At about 10,000 feet above sea level people started to feel really bad. Stomache, sinuses, etc. This made it hard for a lot of people to do anything but sleep on the train from that point on. And, since I was pretty much fine, I got very bored without other people awake and well.
--Upgrade - On our way back we got upgraded to the Tourist Class because they had seats available (which was good because the way back was from 6pm to 7am and the Tourist Class is the only one with recling seats).
Comments:
I would not miss this trip. The scenery is beautiful and the altitude sickness is probably a small price to pay for the lovely mountain air and chance to see a blue sky.

Museo San Francisco

By Taylor Flanagan

--Pidgeons - There were tons of pidgeons outside in the square. It looked like the buildings were striped gray because of the pidgeons resting on every ridge of the surrounding buildings. Also there were people doing some blood tests on them and taking readings and things.
--No Pictures - The Museo doesn't allow photos because "the people don't listen to the tour guide." This was frustrating because the catacombs were really photogenic.
--The tour guide - The tour was sort of flat and I prefer to set my own pace in museums.
--Painting of Last Supper - There was a huge painting of the last supper with all sorts of Peruvian foods and the devil whispering in the ear of Judas.
--13 Martyrs and their deaths - There was a lot of emphasis on the torture of these men. There were images of them everywhere (holding different things that represent how they were killed).
--Paintings without faces - There were paintings all along the halls that had been destroyed and covered by other paintings of similiar images by a different artist. The originals had all the faces of San Francisco whited out.
--Bats - There were bats sleeping in the ceiling.
--The Library - The library had that really great musty book smell and these really beautiful spiral staircases. It reminded me of that scene in Beauty and the Beast (I know, I know).
--The catacombs - The catacombs were very easy to get lost in, with low sloping ceilings and sudden steps down or up. It was really weird knowing that I was "walking on thousands of bodies" as we made our way through them.
--The arranged bones - Probably the most interesting experience for me was finding out that the really famous picture of all the skulls and femures in the big circlular enclosure with skulls studding the candlelit walls, that that picture was set up to be that way for tourists. That kind of took the fun out of it a little bit (I naively thought that the bones were buried that way as part of some sort of ritual).
Comments:
For the most part I had a really good time at this museum, but I wish they would let people experience things at their own pace a little bit more.

Sorry for the incorrect spellings (I thrive on spell check).

Plaza de Armas (Thomas)

Name of Activity: Plaza de Armas
Cost: S/. 12 from Miraflores if you're lucky
Highlights:
1. Cultural and political headquarters
2. The day we went there was an enormous festival with costumes so keep an eye out for happenings around the city
3. The oldest fountain that I have ever seen, having been erected in 1650
4. The impressive buildings that really reflect the Spanish influence on the Peruvians
5. Changing of the guards is impressive but not necessarily something that needs to be viewed in entirety
6. The statue of Francisco Pizarro on his horse
7. Interesting fact that the horse was moved from its original resting place to change the direction the horse's rear was facing by request from the church
8. Interacting with the locals would have to be the the most rewarding highlight
9. The abundance of good little restaurants serving ceviche
10. This is where it becomes readily apparent that you've made it to Peru
Comments:
Granted the opportunity presents itself this is the perfect place to sit and observe the traditions and culture of Lima in it's truest form.

Fun fun in the sun (Thomas)

Center for Adolescent Mothers (Calen)

Name:Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Humming Birds- when we entered, I noticed some large humming birds over by one wall.
2.Sewing Class- We were taken to one class room where the girls are taught to sew. There were 3 girls in the class at the time. Two of them had their infants with them.
3.Bed Rooms- We were taken past the bed rooms where the girls stay while they are at the Center.
4.Doll- The person leading us around showed us that one girl was still young enough to have brought her doll with her.
5.Class Rooms- there were class rooms for 3, 4, and 5 year olds. I was surprised to see that even the 3s were given letter grades for their work.
6.Mothers with Children- At various times we would see the girls walking around the grounds with their children. It is still hard to beleive how young they are when they have to start dealing with this aspect of life.
7.Barbed Wire Walls- Another thing that was hard to take in was the fact that the barbed wire walls were built to keep people in just as much was it was built to keep people out. The people there are worried that traumatized girls will try to abandon their infants if given the oppurtunity.
8.Conversation- After we were done with the tour of the facility we walked back to talk with the director for a while.
9.Tea and Crackers- We were served tea and crackers while we talked.
10.Shop- There was a shop where we were able to buy some of the crafts that the girls have made. It was a good way to give out support, so I purchased a bag that I now use as a grocery bag.

Additional Comments: Like the Comedor, The Center for Adolescent Mother´s offered a more personal look at Peru. It was saddening to see that so many girls have been put in this position, but at the same time it was very reassuring to see that there are those here giving them the help they need.

Comedor (Calen)

Name:Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Wet Roads- This area of Lima was very wet, which is kind of an odd feeling since rain is so rare here. However, the air can be thick with moisture, which given the right conditions will collect on the ground making for messy travels.
2.Kitchen- First we stopped by the kitchen where one person explained to us how members of the Comedor get their food.
3.Supplies- There were large sacks of rice and other supplies stacked against the walls.
4.School Supplies- The school supplies that we all brought with us were dropped off here.
5.Emma´s Camera- Emma, who is doing a documentary while we´re here, let some of us hold the camera to show our perspective.
6.Children of the Comedor- There were a couple of kids there, one of which recited colors for us in English.
7.Food- We were served dinner which consisted of rice, avocado, chicken, and lemon broccoli. It was delicious!
8.Tea- We were given a sweet tea to go with the meal.
9.Conversation- Although it was difficult for me to understand at times, it was pleasant to listen to the conversation of the people of the Comedor.
10.Parting- They were very sweet as we left, instructing us to "return soon" and to "never forget".

Additional Comments: The Comedor was unique to our other day trips in that it had a very personal touch to it. It was nice to not just visit places that represented ancient Peru, but also to visit a place that represents Peru now.

Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera (Calen)

Name: Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Monkeys- The monkeys were very expressive in almost every piece, so I enjoyed taking pictures of the various expressions so I could compare them later.
2.Skeleton Display- There was an odd display of a hunched skeleton nestled in a shallow cave.
3.Dolls- There were some dolls in a display whose style reminded me of some Native American dolls I had seen when I was younger.
4.Pottery Fragments- It was interesting to look at the fragments of pottery and try to imagine what the whole piece had looked like.
5.Gold Head Dresses/Facial Ornaments- One of the most bizzare displays was that of these gold head dresses that had facial ornaments that attached to the nose.
6.Tools- It was interesting to walk around and see the various tools on display to get a better idea of what kinds of things were used during this time period.
7.Cactus- I loved the shape of this one particular cactus that was outside because it was very different from any we have back home.
8.Hairless Dog- There was a hairless dog walking around. One student commented that this variety of dog looks ancient, even at a young age.
9. Erotic Art- It is always intriguing to see the erotic art of other older cultures that seem to lack the taboo that is present in our own.
10.Flowers- The flowers around the grounds were georgeous and I took the oppurtunity to experiment with the manual focus on my camera to get some up close shots of the plants finer details.

Additional Comments- One thing that made this museum memorable for me was the lights went out at one point so we had to try to continue our self tour in the dark. which was fun.

San Francisco Museum and the Cathedral(Calen)

Name:Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Edited Paintings- (Museum) Some of the paintings had the faces painted over. The person leading the tour said that they still do not know why this was done.
2.Library- (Museum) We walked into the library, which smelled like old books. There was a set of spiral wooden stairs that lead up to the second level.
3.Bats- (Museum) There was a domed wooden cieling that had bats in the crevices of its wood work. They were very talkative as we passed by.
4.Pigeons- (Museum) Outside, there were hundreds of pigeons everywhere, including anywhere they could find to perch on the building itself. Ive never seen a building before that was so adorned by birds.
5.Conquistador- (Cathedral) Just inside the Cathedral, there was a room dedicated to the remains of a prominent Conquistador.
6.Chronology of Rulers- (Cathedral) One painting showed the succession of rulers in Lima, which included the transition from the indigenous rulers to Spanish rulers.
7.Martyrs- (Museum) There were several paintings of individuals who had been martyred for one reason or another. Each depiction illustrated how each martyr had died.
8.Sequens- (Cathedral) There were some ornate priestly garb on display that were dotted with sequens, a fashion statement I ascociate with more modern wear.
9.Cieling- (Catacombs) The cieling of the catacombs bellow the museum was very low, and I bumped my head several times.
10.Bones- (Catacombs) I was shocked that the bones were some times arranged purely for dramatic presentation, which did not strike me as very respectful.

Additional Comments: I enjoyed this visit in particular because the history was made more vivid by the fact that much of what was there to be seen was in its original context. Although I had been to another set of catacombs on this trip, this time was different because it was on a much more massive scale and the remains were visible.

Santa Rosa (Calen)

Name:Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Concepcion- Taylor, Kathy and I took a bus from Huancayo to Concepcion, a small town close by. Concepcion seemed to lack most of the hallmarks of western civilization present in Huancayo and Lima, but it was not completely absent. There were still ads for American products including the ever present Coca-cola.
2.Walk to the Monastery- From there, we decided to walk to the monastery instead of bus. This was a nice alternative cause it gave us the oppurtunity to ask the locals, who were eager to help, for directions.
3.Sun and Blue Sky- I can not emphasize this highlight enough. After living in the heavy smog of Lima, every moment under the sun and blue sky of Huancayo and Concepcion was cherished.
4.Exterior- The exterior of the monastery consisted of a large metal dome that reflected the sun light and brightly colored mosaics that lined the walls.
5.Interior- This was contrasted by the dimly lit interior that contained many 3-dimensional scenes inset into the walls. They were lovely to look at, but exceedingly difficult to take pictures of given the lighting.
6.Catacombs- Kathy asked a monk who was lighting candles if we could see the catacombs before we left. He nodded and lead us to a stair well that lead into a dank, poorly lit room. There we saw the tombs of many who had served the monastery. Some were from the early 1900s including one who had served as a jungle missionary.
7.Padre Pio Sarobe- In the front of the monastery there was a tomb for Padre Pio Sarobe. The walls were covered in the graffiti of his well wishers and those offering prayers in his honor.
8.Ice Cream- Outside the monastery we bought ice cream from a vendor and tried Lucama for the first time.
9.Monks- There were several monks walking around the grounds in their traditional garb, but one was carrying textbooks and another was wearing a base ball cap.
10.The bus ride back- rather than walk back, we took a bus from the monastery all the way back to Huancayo. There were too many people on the bus so I had to stand. I was too tall for the bus, so I had to crane my neck and shift from one awkward position to the next. It was an interesting experience because it is the only social setting I have been in where I felt my height was a handi-cap (I am roughly 5.8).

Additional Comments: The trip to the Santa Rosa monastery has been one of my highlights of the trip because it was an activity that the three of us choose together and made happen. That combined with the fresh air, blue sky, sun and the fact that we were surrounded by mountains made it truly a memorable experience!

Train to Huancayo (Calen)

Name: Calen Robertson

Highlights:
1.Train Station- We arrived at the train station when it was still dark. To get to the train we had to walk through the unlit station house, which was spooky but cool.
2.Scenery- The scenery from Lima to Huancayo was stunning and varied. We passed by gorgeous mountains; the sides of which were some times dotted by hundreds of cactus. It was an interesting as a Texan to have my mouth drop at the site of so much cactus!
3.Mining- We passed several mining operations. It was interesting to try and make sense of the complex machinery. The drawback was seeing some of the waste trickle off into near by streams.
4.Towns- There were several towns along the way. They were densely packed with multicolored houses and sometimes up on the hills you could see giant statues of Jesus.
5.Farming- Seeing the farms was one of the most fascinating things about the trip because of the way they had to be constructed. They were tiered so as to fit the shapes of the mountains they were built on which created a lovely layered effect.
6.HIgh Altitude- We stopped at the highest altitude point: 15,681 feet.
7.Altitude Sickness- Unfortunately, half way through the trip I started to feel the effects of altitude sickness. I ate little, drank little, and curled up in a little ball on my seat.
8.Food- Before I got sick, we were served a meal, and, while not amazing, the food was welcome.
9.Tea- Once I got sick, I requested that they bring me mate de coca (coca tea) which was supposed to help. It served to soothe my stomach some what, but it had a strong after taste.
10.Party Car- Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the train ride was the party car at the back of the train. It allowed us to stretch our legs and take in the fresh mountain air.

Additional Comments: I experienced the Huancayo train trip in two halves, the first being enjoyable, and the second not so much. Nevertheless, the altitude sickness was a fair trade for the oppurtunity to see the things that I saw. That being said, I am in no hurry to repeat the experience.

Visiting the Comedor

This is our trip to the Santa Elias Comedor (popular dining room) in San Juan Lurigancho. This comedor feeds about 150 people a week.