Peru Series: Home + water

I'm glad to be back in the states! 

Spending 3 months in Peru was such an adventure. 

I'll always cherish those memories. 

I made great friendships with my team members, 

Met cute Peruvian children, 

Saw a culture and land that is completely different from America. 

I think we take a lot of things for granted that we have here. 

Little things that are actually big things. 

Like, Running water. 

Taking a shower anytime you want, or a hot shower for that matter. 

A wash machine, not having to wash your laundry in a bucket. 

A dish washer. 

Clean drinking water thats always accessible. 

Even the poorest person in America has access to clean, running, water. 

It's a luxury in Peru. 

Water-Filling Station.  

Most people use donkey's as transportation. 

~Linz

Cajamarca

We took a short break from Piura (June 3- June 8)
On Wednesday night we got on a 7pm bus and got to Cajamarca around 4:30 am. 

We were able to tour the city and to see the culture which is much different then Piura. 
The people were so friendly, humble, and kind. 

It is located in the northern highlands of Peru at approximately 2,750 m (8,900 ft) above sea level.

Ely took us down to teach us how to make stoves and to show us a different side of Peru. 

I believe we all in fell in love with Cajamarca. 

Not only was it beautiful with it's tall mountains, 

It was also cold and dry here.

(We were a bit unprepared for how cold it turned out to be)

We had to take things slow at first because of the elevation. 

That was rough and then half the team was sick. 

We ended up making 2 stoves for families.

This is a valuable resource because of the high cost of propane.

~Linz

A stove that is almost completed.

A Completed Stove- PC: Sarah Tonks

A new way

I want to do the next blogs in Peru a little differently. 

More about things I am learning and observing. 

A series type of blogs. 

I think this will be better than a daily log of what I did and
it might help you understand more about the life here. 

So if there is anything you want to learn or know more about

Comment or message me. 

I have learned so much in the month I have been here. 

It is so intriguing how our cultures are so different. 

Yet, finding those similarities is exciting. 

Enjoy!

~Linz

Week 3 in Peru

I apologize for the lateness of the post.

 It's a bit tricky to write blogs without a computer and constant wifi. 

Some Quick updates:

Getting sick is inevitable. 

The whole house is pretty comfortable with each other and their bathroom issues. 

The weather in Piura is constantly hot and humid. 

The fan is literally my best friend. 

We have a bakery down the street for us.

The mosquitos are what we have termed "Hangry" They are vicious and huge. 

There are dogs everywhere.

Ok now to projects:

We went to a rural school called Santa Sara.  

This is where the whole corruption and politics really bothered me. 

We began painting the inside of the wood frame add on to the school room.

We have gone back a few more times to fix it up and to teach the kids about recycling. 

Their entire playground is covered in trash. 

Ana headed up the project, we taught them a song, did an activity, and then had them go out and pick up trash and put them in the appropriate bin. 

They are so smart!

Next we toured a few orphanages to see if they needed any help. 

My favorite project that we have started is teaching English classes at another rural school.
Our class is very intelligent and it's so fun to hear them learn and pronounce words.
They love to ask us questions.
We showed them a $1 and they were so fascinated by it.
They love to ask if we are married or single.
And one boy learned the words Kiss me from a book.
He loves to use that on us ;)

Our english class

Teaching the kids about Recycling

~Linz

The WHY?

Next week I will be in Peru, living there for the next 3.5 months. 

A lot of people asked me why I am going 
So I thought I would share a few of the reasons behind the why.
Truth is there are a lot of reasons why I chose to go. 
First, a while back I wrote on my mirror to travel to a foreign country. 
Call it a goal, a wish, a desire. 
(Things happen if you write it down)

Second, My roommate came to me and said her friend (who will be the country coordinator) 
told her about this opportunity and then my roommate told me about it.  
I would have someone that I know going with me.  
Third, I am young and not tied down with anything. 
Fourth, It was a new adventure, something to get me out of my comfort zone. 
After serving a mission, I now have the added courage to do challenging things. 
I felt like I was getting complacent again, so I decided to take a step outside my comfort zone. 
I am doing something that will not only benefit my life
 but will help change other people's lives. 
Did I doubt my decision? Yes
Am I nervous? Yes
Am I sad to leave my family and friends for a while? Yes.
But in the end I feel the same when I made the decision to serve a mission.
Fifth, probably the biggest reason:
WHY NOT?
Anything can happen if you let it life is out there waiting

so go and get it grab it by the collar seize it by the scruff one

you've started living life you just can't get enough

Anything can happen it's official you can choose the super

or the superficial sally forth the way we're steering obstacles

start disappearing go and chase your dreams you won't regret it

Anything can happen Anything can happen
-Mary Poppins

~Linz