10/30/06 (Day 48): Field based training in Ancash

Here are a few photos from my journey to the high andes of Peru... the Callejon de Huaylas, the Cordillera Blanca and Negra, the department of Ancash. We were just 7 hours northeast of Lima, but truly entered into a different world. Five of us trainees traveled with our Community Health Director, Emilia, for the past week. From Sunday the 22nd until early yesterday morning, we visited 6 different Ancash sites and got the chance to ask some questions about what it's like to actually be a volunteer in Peru. Patience, flexibility & humor were their major bits of advice... at this we were not surprised.

Here's thinking of our dear Maipo and remembering when she was just a puppy back in Chile. We met this cute little puppy, his brother and mother at a Quechua speaking site where the volunteer was known as Don Martin de Perros. Don't worry...we're not going to get another dog :)
Part of our experience included eating the food of the communities in which we were visiting. Here a group of women cooked us rice, peas, carrots, and brocolli at the community soup kitchen (comedor popular). It was delicious. I was sick for the next 4 days.


The beautiful cordillera blanca guided us on our way...when it wasn't raining. The rainy season is expected to start now and go for the next 3-4 months.
This is the improved stove that we built!