University of Adelaide get creative with water games in Peru

COUNTRY: Peru
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Education
WRITTEN BY: Anna Henwood, Adelaide University

Our second week in Peru has flown by, which is a great sign that things are going well here. We have already had one week teaching at Pumamarca School, and enjoying each new experience. The class sizes at the school vary (from 7 to 20 students per class), and it is a challenge for both students and teachers to have lessons presented in English.

However, we are enjoying the challenge! The grade 6 class at Pumamarca school has also experienced their first Italian lesson, which was enjoyed by the students. Some exciting science practical experiments have also happened outdoors, testing air pressure using a bike pump and a water bottle! Great fun!

Afternoon English lessons have also started to be offered to the community at Pumamarca, which involves two afternoon lessons each week for grade 6 students and above. It was also encouraging to see senior school students join in with the classes, even though they are graduates from Pumamarca and attend a senior school elsewhere.

At the same time as the English classes at Pumamarca school, some of the team visited the nearby town of Quilla Huata (pronounced Kia Wata), where there is a school which is also supported by Peru’s Challenge; there is also community interest for English classes at Quilla Huata, which may be a possibility in the weeks to come.

Tuesday evening involved a welcome dinner at ‘Tanupa’ restaurant in Plaza de Armas. It was a buffet dinner with traditional Peruvian food and a very talented group of Peruvian musicians and dancers.

There was an unexpected public holiday on Thursday, which meant that Pumamarca School was closed for a day. Some members of the team went paragliding over the Sacred Valley, while others chose to take the opportunity to rest or to explore more of Cusco city.

Spanish lessons for the Adelaide University team have commenced during the second week, which take place at a school in the historical area of San Blas, in Cusco city. The language we are picking up is supporting us with being able to converse with locals and also giving us skills that are being used in the classroom.

As to be expected, there have been a few sicknesses during the second week in Peru, ranging from simple colds and sniffles to stays at the tourist clinic near Peru’s Challenge office in San Jeronimo. Although no one has been seriously ill, admittance to a clinic can feel isolating, so it must have been encouraging to have other members of the team visit, and helpful that the location of the clinic is near homes and the office.

For some, the highlight of the week was the weekend trip to the Sacred Valley, including a visit to the town of Chincero, the Inca ruins at Ollantaymbo and Pisac, and a hotel stay in Pisac on the Saturday night. The following day, there was time to visit the exciting Pisac market, where many purchases were made of local goods and products. It was incredible to walk the paths of history among the Inca ruin, especially at Pisac and Ollantaymbo – the views were incredible!

We are having long days and very full and interesting weekends, but we are enjoying new experiences and meeting new people. Again, it’s hard to believe how quickly time is passing by.