Hello!
I am still loving jungle life! Since my last blog I have been to Banos which is a really beautiful little town about 3 hours from us which was great. We had a big night out which was so nice after 2 weeks in the jungle! It was great to see another area and nice to relax in the hot springs. This week of teaching has been great. I love teaching the children, they are so enthusiastic! Although it can be a little frustrating as they tend to forget alot! But it is great trying to find ways to get them to learn and enjoy English. They had an exam this week which seemed a little harsh seeing as they are only little but they get examined in every subject so we had to do the same. They did alright although there is definitely room for improvement! They have a week left of school and we are taking both schools on a school trip which should be fun then they are free for the summer. We run a summer school at three of the schools to give the kids something to do otherwise they have 2 months of doing nothing. We are trying to come up with as many games and activities as we can for the summer school which should be so much fun.
We painted our rooms this week which was fun and I did some jugle plumbing! Had to climb up water falls and through pipes with a new water pipe for our new shower which was exciting! It was pouring with rain so it felt like an adventure! We found an amazing river right near our house in the jungle so we went swimming which was amazing. The jungle is so beautiful, I love being here!
So all is well, I will update this when I can. Take care everyone! xxxx
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Monday, 15 June 2009
In the jungle...
Hello!
As I write this I am in the closest town (Puyo) from where we live in the middle of the jungle which is an hour and a half along the worst road in the world! I am absolutely loving it here. I live in a house in the middle of the jungle with three other volunteers who are so nice! We teach English at three little schools along the Arajuno road which we get to by hiking through the jungle then hitching a lift or catching a dodgy bus! We teach in the mornings and the children range from 4 to 14. In the afternoon we write lesson plans for the next days and chill out in the jungle! I am eternally greatful to Dave (my Godfather) who bought me such great waterproofs as it rains constantly here! (I should have guessed given that we are in the rainforest!) However, when it isn´t raining the views are absolutely incredible across the jungle, apparently when it is really clear you can see Peru! We have hammocks in the house so we lie in them writing diaries and reading in the middle of the amazon...very sureal!
This weekend my friend and I went on a trek into the jungle with one of the local families. We walked all day in the rain then camped in the jungle eating food cooked in leaves on an open fire and maggots which apparently are a delicasy! We then hiked back up through river and waterfalls to our house for a well deserved shower - we have hot water which is such a luxury!
It is amazing living here and becoming part of the jungle comunity. Everyone is so friendly and greatful that we are teaching their children skills which hopefully thery will have for life. We try to intergrate as much as we can into the community with football matches, meals together and just sitting chatting and playing the guitar! My Spanish is improving masses which is great and means that I can communicate alot more confidently. The teaching is great but a little frustrating as the children are so enthusiastic but not alot seems to sink in so it is a challenge to think of interesting ways to teach and get them to not only learn English but understand it too.
This bit of my trip feels totally different to everything else I have done which is great and I love it. I have been away for 19 weeks now, such a long time but the time has flown and I am still loving every second. (have another 11 weeks to go!)
I hope everyone is ok at home, I am thinking of you all and can´t wait to see you soon
xxxxxxxxx
As I write this I am in the closest town (Puyo) from where we live in the middle of the jungle which is an hour and a half along the worst road in the world! I am absolutely loving it here. I live in a house in the middle of the jungle with three other volunteers who are so nice! We teach English at three little schools along the Arajuno road which we get to by hiking through the jungle then hitching a lift or catching a dodgy bus! We teach in the mornings and the children range from 4 to 14. In the afternoon we write lesson plans for the next days and chill out in the jungle! I am eternally greatful to Dave (my Godfather) who bought me such great waterproofs as it rains constantly here! (I should have guessed given that we are in the rainforest!) However, when it isn´t raining the views are absolutely incredible across the jungle, apparently when it is really clear you can see Peru! We have hammocks in the house so we lie in them writing diaries and reading in the middle of the amazon...very sureal!
This weekend my friend and I went on a trek into the jungle with one of the local families. We walked all day in the rain then camped in the jungle eating food cooked in leaves on an open fire and maggots which apparently are a delicasy! We then hiked back up through river and waterfalls to our house for a well deserved shower - we have hot water which is such a luxury!
It is amazing living here and becoming part of the jungle comunity. Everyone is so friendly and greatful that we are teaching their children skills which hopefully thery will have for life. We try to intergrate as much as we can into the community with football matches, meals together and just sitting chatting and playing the guitar! My Spanish is improving masses which is great and means that I can communicate alot more confidently. The teaching is great but a little frustrating as the children are so enthusiastic but not alot seems to sink in so it is a challenge to think of interesting ways to teach and get them to not only learn English but understand it too.
This bit of my trip feels totally different to everything else I have done which is great and I love it. I have been away for 19 weeks now, such a long time but the time has flown and I am still loving every second. (have another 11 weeks to go!)
I hope everyone is ok at home, I am thinking of you all and can´t wait to see you soon
xxxxxxxxx
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Ecuador!
Hola!
After Trujillo where I spent two days on the beach and visiting ruins of ancient cities made out of sand, I went up to Mancora which is a major backpacker destination with literally one high street as the town and a huge white sand beach. I stayed in a fantastic hostel with a couple of friends which was like a beach resort at hostel prices with its own pool and hammocks right on the beach. I spent 3 days lying on the beach, swimming in the sea, eating alot of sea food and relaxing! Paradise! Quite afew of my friends from various other places were there which was great.
I then got the bus from Mancora straight to Quito which surprisingly was only 12 hours as Ecuador is so small. The bus wasn´t great as I sunburnt my back so couldn´t get comfy! Anyway, Quito is a great city. It is huge and is built in the middle of the mountains (just like Cusco and La Paz) so the scenery is beautiful. The old town is so interesting and really beautiful with colonial architecture and lots going on. Ecuador seems great of what I have seen so far and I am looking forward to getting to know it better (their accent is a bit difficult to understand but I´m trying!).
Tomorrow I am off into the jungle to start my next project where I am teaching in a little school along the Arajuno Road. Basically this road was built right through indigenous populations who were brought rapidly to modernisation so they can use all the help they can get. I will be teaching, helping with lesson plans and pretty much doing as much as I can. I have the weekends free to explore the jungle which should be great. I have no idea when I will next get internet access so this might be my last blog for a while...I will be in the jungle for 6 weeks overall.
Time is still flying and I am loving every minute. Still a while to go and I can´t wait for all the adventures I have ahead of me!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After Trujillo where I spent two days on the beach and visiting ruins of ancient cities made out of sand, I went up to Mancora which is a major backpacker destination with literally one high street as the town and a huge white sand beach. I stayed in a fantastic hostel with a couple of friends which was like a beach resort at hostel prices with its own pool and hammocks right on the beach. I spent 3 days lying on the beach, swimming in the sea, eating alot of sea food and relaxing! Paradise! Quite afew of my friends from various other places were there which was great.
I then got the bus from Mancora straight to Quito which surprisingly was only 12 hours as Ecuador is so small. The bus wasn´t great as I sunburnt my back so couldn´t get comfy! Anyway, Quito is a great city. It is huge and is built in the middle of the mountains (just like Cusco and La Paz) so the scenery is beautiful. The old town is so interesting and really beautiful with colonial architecture and lots going on. Ecuador seems great of what I have seen so far and I am looking forward to getting to know it better (their accent is a bit difficult to understand but I´m trying!).
Tomorrow I am off into the jungle to start my next project where I am teaching in a little school along the Arajuno Road. Basically this road was built right through indigenous populations who were brought rapidly to modernisation so they can use all the help they can get. I will be teaching, helping with lesson plans and pretty much doing as much as I can. I have the weekends free to explore the jungle which should be great. I have no idea when I will next get internet access so this might be my last blog for a while...I will be in the jungle for 6 weeks overall.
Time is still flying and I am loving every minute. Still a while to go and I can´t wait for all the adventures I have ahead of me!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Up the Peruvian coast
Hi everyone
Sorry I have been so rubbish...I will try to update my blog more!! Anyway I had a great final few weeks in Cusco. I loved the city and it felt like home by the end. Working in the hospital was fantastic and I love Psicomotricity. It was so interesting to help out and see how the therapy worked. The therapists and nurses had a little party for me on the day I left which was really nice. Again it was so sad to leave the children who I had become so attatched to. Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch with the clinic and find out how they are all doing. I cannot believe how fast the time went in Cusco and I know the time will just keep on flying. It was sad to say goodbye to my friends in Cusco too but I know that there is more to see and more people to meet and I´m sure I will love the rest of my trip as much as I have loved it so far.
I got a flight from Cusco to Lima as it was included in the cost of my volunteer project which was great as apparently the bus journey is hell! I stayed in Lima for afew days and met some very nice people! Lima is a pretty nice city but so un-peruvian, it felt like America with Burger King, McDonalds, Dunkin Doughnuts and Pizza Hut on our street! I then got the bus up to Trujillo on the coast of Peru which has fantastic ruins of an ancient city (chan chan) made of sand which I visited yesterday. It also has greta beaches. Tonight I am off up to Mancora which is a huge backpacker destination on the beach which should be good fun. Then I will cross the boarder to be in Quito for my next project on Sunday 7th. I can´t believe its June!
Anyway hope evryone is enjoying the heat wave in England! Very jealous that I might a real English summer! Ah well, South America is not a bad place to be! xxxxxx
Sorry I have been so rubbish...I will try to update my blog more!! Anyway I had a great final few weeks in Cusco. I loved the city and it felt like home by the end. Working in the hospital was fantastic and I love Psicomotricity. It was so interesting to help out and see how the therapy worked. The therapists and nurses had a little party for me on the day I left which was really nice. Again it was so sad to leave the children who I had become so attatched to. Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch with the clinic and find out how they are all doing. I cannot believe how fast the time went in Cusco and I know the time will just keep on flying. It was sad to say goodbye to my friends in Cusco too but I know that there is more to see and more people to meet and I´m sure I will love the rest of my trip as much as I have loved it so far.
I got a flight from Cusco to Lima as it was included in the cost of my volunteer project which was great as apparently the bus journey is hell! I stayed in Lima for afew days and met some very nice people! Lima is a pretty nice city but so un-peruvian, it felt like America with Burger King, McDonalds, Dunkin Doughnuts and Pizza Hut on our street! I then got the bus up to Trujillo on the coast of Peru which has fantastic ruins of an ancient city (chan chan) made of sand which I visited yesterday. It also has greta beaches. Tonight I am off up to Mancora which is a huge backpacker destination on the beach which should be good fun. Then I will cross the boarder to be in Quito for my next project on Sunday 7th. I can´t believe its June!
Anyway hope evryone is enjoying the heat wave in England! Very jealous that I might a real English summer! Ah well, South America is not a bad place to be! xxxxxx
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