Tinkuy Peru

...We are on the third floor of a cement building-house, overlooking the poorest neighborhood of Huancayo, Peru. The desert highlands are in the distance and the weather cannot decide if it wants to be hot or freezing cold. It seems to change every minute. We are in a classroom filled with Peruvian kids from the neighborhood as well as Tino, the founder of Tinkuy Peru. Tino, the most accomplished weaver in Peru, decided five years ago that he needed to help the poor in his community. Tino has traveled to the US to display his artwork and weavings at prominent art shows, and he also has a weaving hanging in the National Geographic headquarters. By Peruvian standards, Tino is very successful, lives in a large home that he shares with about 10 family members, 2 young girls without families, and the volunteers that come from all over the world to work at the school...
Since we arrived we have been able to do some exploring around Huancayo. Mabel took us to visit a ruin sight that was owned by the Huancas, which is how this citys name came about. We walked through a little museum explaining the history of the Huancas, as well as other neighboring tribes. Then we visited the ruin sight just outside the museum where we saw how the Huancas lived and learned about there practices and beliefs. All very similar to other indigenous tribes, but never the less interesting to see. On Sunday, Huancayo has the largest Sunday Market in Peru, which sells many local arts and crafts, as well as wool or alpaca clothing. We both just fell in love with the warm sweaters, socks, gloves, and hats. The material is just so warm and cuddly it was hard to resist buying it all. At least we have stocked up a bit for our intense and possibly very cold Machu Picchu hike coming up in a few days. During our roam around Huancayo after the market we noticed lots of people selling Turron which is a famous Peruvian cake. Come to find out this cake is only made during the month of October, also know as the purple month, for their celebration of El Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles). During this month they hold a large procession where people from the church carry a big figure of the Lord of Miracles around the streets till very early in the morning. Fortunately for us we were able to see this procession happen. The most interesting thing of all is that various people of Huancayo create these elaborate drawings and then draw them on the gowned of the path the procession will take. They draw the picture out with chalk and then fill it in with colored dirt or flower peddles. When it is done it looked like carpet, it was amazing. I had never seen anything like it before. I am glad that Marie, Gloria and Mabel took us out to share the experience with us. Everyone here is so nice and hospitable they are such wonderful people.
Enough about Huancayo let me tell you about our time here in Tinkuy Peru... Everyday both Heather and I get up in the morning eat breakfast and head out for our 20 minute walk to the mountains where we teach orphans and poor children who can not afford to buy school books and uniforms to attend public schools. Our first day was pretty relaxed because Brian and Judd, two other volunteers came with us and showed us the ropes. It was their last day so we had a little party in the afternoon and everyone was very sad to say good bye. As for the rest of the week, Heather and I were solo with the help of Tino, Mabel and Marie. In the mornings I taught a kindergarten/first grade class. We went over the names of body parts, food categories, shapes and colors and counting syllables. Heather taught English verbs to middle school aged children in preparation for there big verb test. Lets hope they do well since they had some 100+ verbs to learn. Once morning class was over we all headed home for lunch and then meet up again for the afternoon class. Our afternoons are much fuller then the morning, not sure why. For the afternoon, I taught English and math to 4,5 and 6th graders and Heather taught math to the junior highers. Lets just say, both Heather and I had to do some review on fractions and angles before teaching them to the class since it has been a while. Luckily it went smoothly even though we were a bit nervious. Our week here has gone by incredibly fast and we are both sad to have to say good bye tomorrow to all the children. Having come to realize how much the volunteers mean here I wish we had a month or more to stay and work with all the children. The investment Tino has put into the children and school is just amazing and such a wonderful thing for each one of these children. All the children are so excited to come to school everyday and just love being around the volunteers, Tino, and his family. If after reading about our experience here touched you at all we kindly ask that this christmas you donate a few dollars to Tinkuy Peru. You can visit the website by clicking on the link just left of the blog titled "Tinkuy Peru" where you can read more about Tinos plans for the future. Tino not only deals with the day to day happenings of the school, but he also has incredible hopes for the future of these children. Education is the number one most important way to change the future and this is exactly what Tino is working towards. Also if you ever care to travel down to Peru and want to volunteer we would highly recommend volunteering here in Huancayo with Tinkuy Peru.
I hope this blog has found each of you well. Our thoughts are with all of you as election time nears. We will be in mid hike up to Macchu Picchu but will await the results when we get back. May the best man win. Adios for now.