Project #3

Before I left I finished project #3, making hygiene kits. I ended up making 140 kits, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, a soap container and a package of kleenex. It took a lot of time to buy all the items since buying in bulk is unheard of in Peru. The hardest to find was the soap boxes. I think we had to go to four different Plaza Vea's, two Wongs, and a Totus to find them all. Not to mention we had to improvise at end and buy small plastic containers from the kitchen isle, but after about a month of shopping and with some help from Laura and my dad all the kits got put together and my mom helped rearrange them in boxes for us to take to the orphanage.

 

 

 

On the left is a kit with a toddler toothbrush for the kinders, and on the right is one of the regular kits.

 

 

We delivered the kits on Wednesday, and hopefully in this past week they have given a kit to each of the children and hopefully they are using them.


Project #4 fell through, I was too busy running around finding everything I needed for the hygiene kits that I didn't get to make the first aid kits, but maybe in the future that can be something I do. I don't know if I will be going back to Peru or not, but you never know, right?


Mi Ultimos Dias Parte Uno

Hello from Utah!

It's been a hectic few days. Thursday was my last day in Peru and Friday we flew to Atlanta and then to Salt Lake.  We ran into a few problems with immigrations and security along the way. Is there a way to travel without being hassled? I didn't think so.  Saturday was spent with my cousins and getting groceries. Now we are just settling in and getting used to being back. The differences between here and Peru are as great as an ocean. I miss Peru but I am happy to be in Utah. It's a bittersweet experience because I miss the sweet kids at the orphanage and volunteering, and all my new friends but it's exciting to be here and be with my family and start a new adventure.

My last few days were spent with friends, family, adorable kids and volunteering with Express Connect.

I have loved working with Express Connect. Going to schools and talking to children was a great opportunity, to both practice my Spanish, and become more educated on issues like abuse and bullying but really the best thing was being able to help kids in a small small way.

The last two weeks I went to two different schools to talk about self esteem and bullying with kids. With our self esteem presentations we bring out a mirror and have people say what they like about themselves, something inside like a talent or trait they have and one thing that they like about the way they look. 

 

I've learned a lot about my self while volunteering and the importance of thinking of yourself and being okay with yourself if not happy with yourself. 

My last time I went to a school, was Monday and we visited the Alexander Flemming school, one that I have been to before and talked about before on my blog and as we were doing the last presentation and there was a boy who was autistic and he wrote down on a piece of paper "this is CNN" and I wasn't sure why, except that maybe that was the most English he knew and he helped with a part of the presentation, we were doing roleplaying with the kids and after we left and he came and gave me a big hug and then he slipped the little piece of paper into my hand. I saw him after in the hall while he was putting his coat on and he gave me another hug. It was a good feeling being hugged by a boy who has seen you once but as so much love for all those around him, friend or foe and I wish that everyone could feel the same feeling I did because it is a truly amazing feeling.

Kids are so loving and kind and patient, I think we could all learn a lesson from them.