Today was our last day up at the school. It should have been Wednesday but there is a national strike on tomorrow about the increase of food prices so we can’t go. No businesses open unless the owners live on premise. If you attempt to drive to work people stone your car. Locals have already been stock piling rocks ready for some action!
Tuesdays are construction days – no art or sport classes to teach. So Jon and I built another storage crate for the wool in the Talleres room. We had to make do with the very warped scrapes of wood behind one of the buildings so our box has a very rustic look. I actually only collected and measured the wood and cleaned up whilst Jon cut it all and hammered everything together with the help of Ross and Terry (not that Terry can really use a hammer, he is as bad as me). This took all morning and was finished just before our goodbye ceremony. It is good to have at least completed a project. We will leave the school having helped improve the Talleres exhibition space, even if it is only in a small way.
Once again the children lined up on the oval to say goodbye to another lot of volunteers. There was quite a long speech in Spanish from the principal (they call him president) which I didn’t understand one word of except for “muchas gracious” – thank you very much. Perhaps I should have continued with my Spanish lessons. Some of the kids danced (stomped is probably a better description) and sung for us all, fighting for the microphone. Then we were presented with cards and flowers (I think we have depleted the stock of local flowers with all the ceremonies, birthdays and goodbyes we have had) and received hugs all round from every kid and teacher present.
Tuesdays are construction days – no art or sport classes to teach. So Jon and I built another storage crate for the wool in the Talleres room. We had to make do with the very warped scrapes of wood behind one of the buildings so our box has a very rustic look. I actually only collected and measured the wood and cleaned up whilst Jon cut it all and hammered everything together with the help of Ross and Terry (not that Terry can really use a hammer, he is as bad as me). This took all morning and was finished just before our goodbye ceremony. It is good to have at least completed a project. We will leave the school having helped improve the Talleres exhibition space, even if it is only in a small way.Once again the children lined up on the oval to say goodbye to another lot of volunteers. There was quite a long speech in Spanish from the principal (they call him president) which I didn’t understand one word of except for “muchas gracious” – thank you very much. Perhaps I should have continued with my Spanish lessons. Some of the kids danced (stomped is probably a better description) and sung for us all, fighting for the microphone. Then we were presented with cards and flowers (I think we have depleted the stock of local flowers with all the ceremonies, birthdays and goodbyes we have had) and received hugs all round from every kid and teacher present.
When all the children were lining up to give us hugs I started to shed a few tears (good thing I was wearing sun glasses). Even though I haven’t really done that much, I have enjoyed my time here immensely and I will miss it and the grubby little children, except the grade threes who as a collective whole are a bunch of rowdy monsters. Both Jon and I feel like we could easily have stayed another month. Before we could head off down the hill we had to stay for a prize giving ceremony. On Friday whilst we were off hiking they had a kite flying competition (the kids here are crazy about kites) and today they were awarding a prize for the highest flying kite and the prettiest kite in each year level. One poor boy won a doll much to the amusement of his class mates. I think they could have worked that one out a bit better.In the afternoon Jon and I headed into town to post another 5kg parcel back home. Jon has now officially banned me from buying more souvenirs. I have already broken the ban! We then ate at Jacks. I couldn’t stand the thought of eating more rice (I am over it) so we ate sandwiches in town.
That evening we went back into town to see a play called Kus1kay – Peru Espectacular. It was thoroughly recommended by Jane and Selvy so a group of us went. The show had a Cirque du Soleil (though no where near as good) feel to it and apparently told a story about a woman named Chaska who had to save her town from drought by visiting the gods. On her journey she learnt about the myths, beliefs and customs of her people. She ended up dying right when Terry farted. There was also some scarey clown thing which I didn’t get at all. I think a lot of the plot was lost in translation (which was filled with spelling mistakes – dad would have had a field day spotting them all on the screen). One of the girls who speaks Spanish said it made no sense in its mother tongue either. The costumes and music were good though, and it was interesting to see a Peruvian production even if we didn’t get it.
Jon was very excited to discover you could buy a 1.1 litre bottle of beer at the pub for just under $7. I was excited that I won both rounds of darts.
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