Week Two in Huancayo

Our time in Huancayo is passing quickly. As usual, we´re keeping busy. We're volunteering at 2 orphanages, living with a host family, and taking Spanish classes (Sarah has been and Jeremy will start next week).

Some of the highlights of our week besides volunteering have been having the chance to watch the Super Bowl at our host family´s house, visiting the Sunday market, and eating with our host family for lunch almost every day. We also had a volunteer-made dinner of chicken fajitas. It feels really good to be in one place, building relationships again!

Inabif

Every morning, we walk over to Inabif, an all-boys orphanage to volunteer with the 7 guys with special needs there (Abel, Abran, Gabriel, Marco Antonio, Pepe, Sergio, and Victor). We spend our time helping them with greetings, early writing skills, hygiene education, and sportsmanship skills. In the following pictures, you´ll see many more boys than just the guys we work with. On these particular days, they were super excited to have their photos taken. One thing I noticed with a few of them is that, unlike in the States, they would STOP smiling as soon as the photo was taken (especially Abel). I think this is because in pictures here, it´s not as common to smile. All the guys are very sweet!


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Francisca Mayer

In the afternoons, we catch a combi (small bus) and walk a bit to Francisca Mayer, an all-girls orphanage. There, we teach reading comprension skills and a bit of direct instruction in reading with one girl who hasn´t yet learned to read. Everyday, we also spend some quality time with the girls, usually playing volleyball or soccer. Just like the guys, these girls were absolutely thrilled to have their pictures taken.

On Monday, we're going to have a bit of a Carnaval celebration with the girls. We've been told to bring an extra set of clothes because between the water balloons, buckets of water, and water guns that will be used, we are going to get soaked! Jeremy will be hit especially hard because the tradition is for girls to get the guys and guys to get the girls. Unfortunately for Jeremy, he´s the only guy and there are a whole lot of girls!


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This weekend we´re headed for Huancavelica, a remote town about 6 hours away by train, also in the highlands. And then on Monday, we begin another week volunteering at these orphanages!