Goodbye Peru, You've Been Fabulous!

COUNTRY: Peru
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Teaching & Construction
WRITTEN BY: Katie Bergan

Our last week was really hard. Absolutely no one was ready to leave and many tears were shed. For our final construction work the greenhouse door was painted with much love and the school kitchen was tiled and cleaned.

Classes were chaotic because the kids were so excited for the holiday season. There was very little concentration amongst the children

We were lucky to visit a local family home and thanked them with gifts of food, toilet paper, mattresses and a new bed, tiles for the roof, and a new guinea pig hutch. Nico translated what the mother said about their living conditions and family life. She was so grateful and absolutely a beautiful person. On the day of the school’s Christmas party she brought us each a hand made bracelet with our names on it. The party was really fun and everyone was able to give the presents we bought for the children (soccer balls, pencils, Dr. Seuss books, colouring in books, paints, t-shirts, bubbles, Mr. Men books, hot wheels, mini koalas, etc.) The mothers made us lunch and the children sang songs and danced.

Parting was hard and there was a fair amount of time spent hugging everyone in sight. We took some of the staff out for dinner to say farewell afterwards. Leaving our host families was also difficult because it felt like we had been building our lives around these homes and people. We wanted to express our gratitude so we went to the local Tupac Amaru markets to buy some extras gifts for them (a fig tree for their garden and some Christmas decorations made from flowers), and handed over gifts that people had brought from home.

The last weekend was spent in Cusco; shopping, eating out, and enjoying the nightlife. Greens Organic restaurant was very popular for their great smoothies and mango ceviche. Mama Africa had great salsa music and Mythology and was also a hit for dancing. We have all really bonded over the past month; the term ‘friends for life’ comes to mind (if you want to be a little corny). Going our separate ways was really hard because it meant that the experience was really over. Most of the people we had to say goodbye to asked us the same question, ‘you won’t forget us will you?’

Of course we won’t forget. These moments have been so special.