I just arrived to the coast of ecuador, into portoviejo and met a friend Jorge Zambrano who is the man, and he took me to a little beach town called Crucita. Any who back to the title of this post, I saw the ocean for the first time in ecuador and went swimming after spening about three weeks cruising from mountain town to mountain town. It was a gorgeous route. starting in Vilcabamba, I went north through Cuenca, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Banos, Latacunga, Zumbahua, Quilaotoa, Quevedo, and made it to Portoviejo safe and sound. I dont have time now because I have to catch a bus to Bahia, a town north of Crucita by about an hour, but I would like to write more about what I saw because I had some freaking amazing experiences!!! another time hopefully:)
much love to my family and friends! miss you
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ecuador
Last Tuesday I took a night bus from Mancora, Peru, to Vilcabamba, Ecuador. It took about eleven hours. We crossed the border at a town called Macara. The border crossing went a little something like this, big bridge spaning a river, one side peru, one side ecuador, bus stopped on the peruvian side of bridge, get off bus, get passport stamped out of peru, walk across bridge at exactly midnight, go to ecuadorian side and get passport stamped for 90 days of free travel, bus drives across, get on bus, drive away into ecuador. done. simple as pie. I got off the bus in Loja, and had to get on another bus to Vilcabamba, about one hour. The drive was insanely beautiful, a winding road weaving through the massive andes covered in lush vegetation. A slight rain coming down and clouds lightly covering the peaks of the mountains. Arrived into town at about 630 am and it was dead. only a few people here and there. I searched around trying to find a hostal but most were closed until I found The Hostal Sagrado, my savior jaja. I got a room, a tiny old thing, but it had a bed and that was all I needed, laid my pack down, and passed out. Woke up around lunch time, found a restaurant, and got a huge plate of rice, beans, chicken, salsa, and a soup and a drink, for only a buck fifty. beautiful stuff right there! Over the course of the next few days, I wandered and explored all over the city which didnt take long, because its a very small town, only 1500 hundred people or so. I swam in the river, hiked nearby mountains, played survivorman, built a spear and caught a fish, went for a 5 hour horseback ride through the Podocarpus national park which was one of my favorites experiences of the trip so far. There was a peaceful and tranquil feelings while galloping freaking fast on enormous mountains with no civilization around, no cars, no buildings, no people, no worries. just nature yet it was one heck of an adrenaline rush! after 3 hours we made it to Cascada. tied the horses up to trees and took a half hour hike down a trail, and I started to hear water, when we came around the bend there was a gigantic waterfall. took a swim and played in the water, such a great day, but it still hurts terribly to sit down... ha
I am currently in Cuenca, the 3rd largest city in ecuador. It is a beautiful city filled with amazing architecture and huge churches everywhere. There is a river running through town with bridges spanning it at every street. The elevation here is 2600 meters or something close to that, which is like 9000 feet so its very high. i got winded walking around town today, jaja. Today is sunday so it was a church day, i went inside a bunch of them to check it out, and they are beautiful, stained glass windows like you wouldnt believe!! religion is a huge part of life here, like it was in Peru. From what I have seen, poverty has an interesting relationship with religion. If i were starving on the street or my children were dying from malnutrition and disease, I would curse God and hate him for what he was doing to me, or not doing for that matter. but ironically enough, these people pray and pray and believe that God will get them out of their situation. They look to him, or it, or whatever you call God, for inspiritation and love, which isnt necesarily a bad thing, it keeps them going. day after day. night after night. i am inspired by the strength and good-nature of people here, despite lack of many basic necesities of life. It has taught me a lesson about what is important in life, and it should teach you all a thing or two, or a thousand, as well.
Best wishes everyone, I love you dearly and miss you tons!!
Morgito
p.s. happy thanksgiving, almost.
I am currently in Cuenca, the 3rd largest city in ecuador. It is a beautiful city filled with amazing architecture and huge churches everywhere. There is a river running through town with bridges spanning it at every street. The elevation here is 2600 meters or something close to that, which is like 9000 feet so its very high. i got winded walking around town today, jaja. Today is sunday so it was a church day, i went inside a bunch of them to check it out, and they are beautiful, stained glass windows like you wouldnt believe!! religion is a huge part of life here, like it was in Peru. From what I have seen, poverty has an interesting relationship with religion. If i were starving on the street or my children were dying from malnutrition and disease, I would curse God and hate him for what he was doing to me, or not doing for that matter. but ironically enough, these people pray and pray and believe that God will get them out of their situation. They look to him, or it, or whatever you call God, for inspiritation and love, which isnt necesarily a bad thing, it keeps them going. day after day. night after night. i am inspired by the strength and good-nature of people here, despite lack of many basic necesities of life. It has taught me a lesson about what is important in life, and it should teach you all a thing or two, or a thousand, as well.
Best wishes everyone, I love you dearly and miss you tons!!
Morgito
p.s. happy thanksgiving, almost.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
northern peru- piura, chulucanas
Hola hola,
Life is hectic as it has even been before. There is so much going on right now that it is hard to even grasp. On tuesday november 2nd, a fellow volunteer sarah and myself took a seventeen hour bus ride up to a town in the North West of Peru to a city called Piura, then proceeded to a smaller town, Chulucanas where we are now helping at an orphanage. The bus ride up was long, but not unbearable. For a little under thirty bucks I bought a 17 hour bus ride with two meals, reclining seats, movies, and a scenic view of the desert. Ha the landscape on the way up was flat and vegetation far and in between. As far as my eyes could see, it was a smooth layer of dirt and sand with a tree here and there. It was a sight to see. We took a night bus ride up so we slept for a good chunk of the bus ride making it much easier.
We are staying at a religious compound kind of thing, where a bishop, three priests, a nun, and much staff live. It is very nice. Comparatively high class for my standards at the moment. I have my own room. Food is great. Hot water. Life is not to shabby. The orphanage we are working at is in much worse condition than the Hogar San Francisco I was previously working at. For nearly twenty kids, they live in a small warehouse building with a kitchen, and three rooms. The floor is concrete and the walls are bland, but not for long, because we are painting nine giant murals to spice the atmosphere up for the kids. We are painting murals of the alphabet, numbers, an ocean scene, a tree with their handprints as the leaves, the solar system, and a few more. It is amazing to see the smiles on the children here. It is primarily just girls ranging in age from 1.5 years up to 16 yrs, but there is one little boy named Tulio who is the cutest kid in the whole world. He is only a year and a half, but he is running all over the place all the time, and has the best smile and laugh I have ever witnessed. I have only been here since wednesday, and he is my favorite by far. Tulio is a wonderful, happy little child even though he lives in crap conditions. The moment that made my day today was when he called me Papa. He just wants to be picked up, and held and loved just like any child, just like any person. It's moments like these that brighten the world for me and remind me that there is good in a world filled with bad. You only have to look to see the light. And believe me, life is much better in light than dark.
On a different subject entirely, one of deep sadness. One of my friends, one of the hogar volunteers, Lily Cantu, died in a tragic accident on thursday evening. She was only twenty years old and had unmeasurable potential to do good in this world and change lives people all over the world. Sadly her time was cut short. I only share this to honor her wonderful life she lived, by telling you all to live your lives to the absolute fullest every moment of every waking hour because you honestly never know when you time will come. I have been a witness to death frequently over the past year and I used to always tell myself that it would never happen to me or anyone of my family members, or friends, but that changed. One of my dearest friends, Thomas Goettelmann, died this past summer, a family member came startling close to the other side, my best friends mom came about as close to death as your can get, and now Lily past away on Thursday. I say this to bring attention to the preciousness of human life; to its brief beauty and sacredness. So be aware and be mindful in your life and do not take anything for granted because the are millions of people who do not share your luck and have your blessings in all the privileges and opportunities you were given. Open your eyes and see the world for its goodness because if everyone did this and started to care, the world would turn upside down in change. If people started to get rid of their indifference, cast away their apathy; and realized that we are all equals of the same earth. We live on the same ground and breath the same air. There is nothing, no skin color, no nationality, no belief, that marks one individual superior than the next. And if you think you are better than someone, then f@$k you, you're wrong. Get equality into you head and flip your views upside down and care for people like you care for yourself, because honestly we are all connected with everything that happens in this world. While you sit on your sofa with junk food surrounding you as you watch your favorite crap tv show, and switch to the news on a commercial break and see a story about the genocide happening in Africa, or malnutrition and shit medical treatment in places like haiti, peru, african countries, laos, cambodia, and so so many more issues, and you think for a second about doing something, about trying to make a change and help those helpless people, and then you realize your show is probably back on, and plus hey those countries are so far away its practically a different world right?? WRONG, this is your world, this is my world, this is their world, and it is damn surely OUR world. and we have a right to help those people. Because the world is a lot smaller than you think and people are not that different. Just because their skin is a different color or they speak a different language is absolutely not a reason to sit on your ass while these people fight for their lives every day. While these children have to become adults at absurdly young ages because they have no parents. While young girls are raped and killed. While the world falls apart... It is not somebody else's job to fix these problems, it is YOUR duty to your fellow humans to do everything in your power to help them. Because when everyone else thinks someone else with do that thing and make that change and that it is okay for them to continue their live in blissful ignorance, not a goddamn thing will get done, and that my friends is bullshit. So get off your couch, put away the bag of chips, turn off the tv, and stand up for these people who need saviors!!! before its too late...
mom I apologize for the swearing, I get more and more worked up every time I talk about this stuff. Just censor it for your class when you show it to them. Please show it to them because it is these children, these youngsters, that are going to change the world. It is their turn, so have them read it or read it to them, and then turn off the lights and have them sit in silence for at least a good 5 minutes and let them reflect on their thoughts. And then at the end of the time, have a discussion on how they plan to change their world, because it is their world, OUR WORLD. start with small changes and light the spark to the fire to make great changes.
I want to say to all of my family and my friends, that I love you so very dearly and you make me able to stay happy while I see suffering. Without you I would be nothing. I wish I could sit down with each and every one of you and tell you in person how much you mean to me and that I love you more than you know, but sadly I cannot so please know that I think the world of you!! and will never forget any one of you because you are a part of me. Please count your blessings as often as you can, and try to not take anything for granted and most importantly live your life and love as many people as you can!!
mo
Life is hectic as it has even been before. There is so much going on right now that it is hard to even grasp. On tuesday november 2nd, a fellow volunteer sarah and myself took a seventeen hour bus ride up to a town in the North West of Peru to a city called Piura, then proceeded to a smaller town, Chulucanas where we are now helping at an orphanage. The bus ride up was long, but not unbearable. For a little under thirty bucks I bought a 17 hour bus ride with two meals, reclining seats, movies, and a scenic view of the desert. Ha the landscape on the way up was flat and vegetation far and in between. As far as my eyes could see, it was a smooth layer of dirt and sand with a tree here and there. It was a sight to see. We took a night bus ride up so we slept for a good chunk of the bus ride making it much easier.
We are staying at a religious compound kind of thing, where a bishop, three priests, a nun, and much staff live. It is very nice. Comparatively high class for my standards at the moment. I have my own room. Food is great. Hot water. Life is not to shabby. The orphanage we are working at is in much worse condition than the Hogar San Francisco I was previously working at. For nearly twenty kids, they live in a small warehouse building with a kitchen, and three rooms. The floor is concrete and the walls are bland, but not for long, because we are painting nine giant murals to spice the atmosphere up for the kids. We are painting murals of the alphabet, numbers, an ocean scene, a tree with their handprints as the leaves, the solar system, and a few more. It is amazing to see the smiles on the children here. It is primarily just girls ranging in age from 1.5 years up to 16 yrs, but there is one little boy named Tulio who is the cutest kid in the whole world. He is only a year and a half, but he is running all over the place all the time, and has the best smile and laugh I have ever witnessed. I have only been here since wednesday, and he is my favorite by far. Tulio is a wonderful, happy little child even though he lives in crap conditions. The moment that made my day today was when he called me Papa. He just wants to be picked up, and held and loved just like any child, just like any person. It's moments like these that brighten the world for me and remind me that there is good in a world filled with bad. You only have to look to see the light. And believe me, life is much better in light than dark.
On a different subject entirely, one of deep sadness. One of my friends, one of the hogar volunteers, Lily Cantu, died in a tragic accident on thursday evening. She was only twenty years old and had unmeasurable potential to do good in this world and change lives people all over the world. Sadly her time was cut short. I only share this to honor her wonderful life she lived, by telling you all to live your lives to the absolute fullest every moment of every waking hour because you honestly never know when you time will come. I have been a witness to death frequently over the past year and I used to always tell myself that it would never happen to me or anyone of my family members, or friends, but that changed. One of my dearest friends, Thomas Goettelmann, died this past summer, a family member came startling close to the other side, my best friends mom came about as close to death as your can get, and now Lily past away on Thursday. I say this to bring attention to the preciousness of human life; to its brief beauty and sacredness. So be aware and be mindful in your life and do not take anything for granted because the are millions of people who do not share your luck and have your blessings in all the privileges and opportunities you were given. Open your eyes and see the world for its goodness because if everyone did this and started to care, the world would turn upside down in change. If people started to get rid of their indifference, cast away their apathy; and realized that we are all equals of the same earth. We live on the same ground and breath the same air. There is nothing, no skin color, no nationality, no belief, that marks one individual superior than the next. And if you think you are better than someone, then f@$k you, you're wrong. Get equality into you head and flip your views upside down and care for people like you care for yourself, because honestly we are all connected with everything that happens in this world. While you sit on your sofa with junk food surrounding you as you watch your favorite crap tv show, and switch to the news on a commercial break and see a story about the genocide happening in Africa, or malnutrition and shit medical treatment in places like haiti, peru, african countries, laos, cambodia, and so so many more issues, and you think for a second about doing something, about trying to make a change and help those helpless people, and then you realize your show is probably back on, and plus hey those countries are so far away its practically a different world right?? WRONG, this is your world, this is my world, this is their world, and it is damn surely OUR world. and we have a right to help those people. Because the world is a lot smaller than you think and people are not that different. Just because their skin is a different color or they speak a different language is absolutely not a reason to sit on your ass while these people fight for their lives every day. While these children have to become adults at absurdly young ages because they have no parents. While young girls are raped and killed. While the world falls apart... It is not somebody else's job to fix these problems, it is YOUR duty to your fellow humans to do everything in your power to help them. Because when everyone else thinks someone else with do that thing and make that change and that it is okay for them to continue their live in blissful ignorance, not a goddamn thing will get done, and that my friends is bullshit. So get off your couch, put away the bag of chips, turn off the tv, and stand up for these people who need saviors!!! before its too late...
mom I apologize for the swearing, I get more and more worked up every time I talk about this stuff. Just censor it for your class when you show it to them. Please show it to them because it is these children, these youngsters, that are going to change the world. It is their turn, so have them read it or read it to them, and then turn off the lights and have them sit in silence for at least a good 5 minutes and let them reflect on their thoughts. And then at the end of the time, have a discussion on how they plan to change their world, because it is their world, OUR WORLD. start with small changes and light the spark to the fire to make great changes.
I want to say to all of my family and my friends, that I love you so very dearly and you make me able to stay happy while I see suffering. Without you I would be nothing. I wish I could sit down with each and every one of you and tell you in person how much you mean to me and that I love you more than you know, but sadly I cannot so please know that I think the world of you!! and will never forget any one of you because you are a part of me. Please count your blessings as often as you can, and try to not take anything for granted and most importantly live your life and love as many people as you can!!
mo
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
My first month
apologies for the lack of posts, ledge i know i said i would post one or two a week, but sadly I fell through with that ha, any who here goes. I have nearly completed my first month here in Peru. I am still at the Hogar home for children, and am continuing to have a phenomenal experience. Each day I am getting to know the kids better and learn more about their problems and there stories. The Hogar home is not a orphanage by name or practice, although there are some orphans here. The Hogar home is primarily a recovery home for children who are sick or injured. Many children have missing appendages that are here in the home to have there leg or arm lengthened slightly to be fit for a prosthesis. Also many kids have cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, which both affect motor skills. Burns are another huge issue here. There are children who have been here for years on end recovering from severe burns. Here's the story about one of the kids, Jefferson. He was in a house fire when he was 2 months old. He was in his crib when the fire started, and the parents rushed out to save themselves, but forgot him. When they were outside the realized he was still inside but figured he was probably dead by then so they left him to die. By some miracle he survived and lay in the burned rubble until a nun passed by and found him and brought him to the Hogar. Thats how he ended up here, he is now eight years old and has overcome so many obstacles to come this far. He has burn scares covering his body. It is an disheartening story but one similar to many of the other children. It's hard to be surrounded by so many suffering children, but it feels amazing to help in the small ways that I can.
One a different note. I took a trip down to Cusco with two other volunteers this last week. Cusco is a wonderful city. So much cleaner and prettier, and way smaller, than Lima. Cusco has about 300,000 people I think, but it has no high rise buildings. We had planned to go to Machu Picchu but on arrival we found out that there was a transportation strike taking place right in the middle of our time there. The strike went from tuesday until thursday afternoon, and we were only there from monday until friday morning so it was impossible to get to machu picchu and back because of the strike. It was far from a wasted trip though. We went to Pisac our first day and saw some amazing ruins there. The Andes mountain range has a powerful feeling to it that draws your attention and eyes to them. Its magnificent to see. We hiked around the ruins and walked down a trail that took a good four hours to go down back to the town of Pisac. There was a market in the center of town that we ventured into. I ended up buying a Alpaca sweater that is sooo comfortable. The market took up the good part of the plaza. A funny thing about the markets i have seen here is that they are all practically the same in regards to the products they are selling. Back in Cusco we went to three museums, saw four more ruins on the outskirts of Cuzco, and I went bungee jumping at the third highest place in the world, the highest in all of the americas. The food is delicious. We went to pizzerias, sandwich spots, and even tried guiena pig, not sure how to spell it.
I have to go now because I am heading into Lima with a group of kids that have appointments at the hospital but I will try to write again soon when I have time. Until then ciao amigos.
One a different note. I took a trip down to Cusco with two other volunteers this last week. Cusco is a wonderful city. So much cleaner and prettier, and way smaller, than Lima. Cusco has about 300,000 people I think, but it has no high rise buildings. We had planned to go to Machu Picchu but on arrival we found out that there was a transportation strike taking place right in the middle of our time there. The strike went from tuesday until thursday afternoon, and we were only there from monday until friday morning so it was impossible to get to machu picchu and back because of the strike. It was far from a wasted trip though. We went to Pisac our first day and saw some amazing ruins there. The Andes mountain range has a powerful feeling to it that draws your attention and eyes to them. Its magnificent to see. We hiked around the ruins and walked down a trail that took a good four hours to go down back to the town of Pisac. There was a market in the center of town that we ventured into. I ended up buying a Alpaca sweater that is sooo comfortable. The market took up the good part of the plaza. A funny thing about the markets i have seen here is that they are all practically the same in regards to the products they are selling. Back in Cusco we went to three museums, saw four more ruins on the outskirts of Cuzco, and I went bungee jumping at the third highest place in the world, the highest in all of the americas. The food is delicious. We went to pizzerias, sandwich spots, and even tried guiena pig, not sure how to spell it.
I have to go now because I am heading into Lima with a group of kids that have appointments at the hospital but I will try to write again soon when I have time. Until then ciao amigos.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Peruvian Orphanage
-Hey
I am safe and sound in Peru. The orphanage I am working at is in a small town called Chaclacayo, north of Lima by about an hour give or take another hour depending on the traffic, road blocks, any other given deterrent. The landscape is quite mountainous, but the mountains are not at all like the ones back in Sun Valley. The ones hear are not quite as big but the main difference is that they have not a single tree, bush, shrub, leaf, not anything. It is just rock and dirt, a plain gray covering the entirety of the mountain side.
The people here are extremely kind and welcoming. I am the only white person when I go out into Chaclacayo or into Lima, and that is quite different but it is a good change of scene. I havent been eating all that much, but when I do the food is delicious:) For breakfast they normally serve just toast and a chocolately milk thing, which is pretty good. Lunch and dinner are much more hearty meals consisting of rice, always rice, lettuce, tomatoes, soup, a meat of some kind mostly pollo-chicken or pescado-fish.
My work at the orphanage has been eye opening as far as the things that I have seen. I wont go into much depth because it is very disheartening, but every child here has a major issue that we are trying to help them with. Many have cleft lip, are missing an appendage or two or three, have severe burns, the list goes on and on. The children here deal with more pain and agony in a single day than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime. Not to mention that many of these children were found malnourished, abandoned, or left in the streets. Each day as I see more children and learn about their lives and what they have gone through, I feel so spoiled to have grown up in such a wonderful place with a great community. Don't take your blessing for granted- my advice to you.
Until next time, adios chicos
mo
I am safe and sound in Peru. The orphanage I am working at is in a small town called Chaclacayo, north of Lima by about an hour give or take another hour depending on the traffic, road blocks, any other given deterrent. The landscape is quite mountainous, but the mountains are not at all like the ones back in Sun Valley. The ones hear are not quite as big but the main difference is that they have not a single tree, bush, shrub, leaf, not anything. It is just rock and dirt, a plain gray covering the entirety of the mountain side.
The people here are extremely kind and welcoming. I am the only white person when I go out into Chaclacayo or into Lima, and that is quite different but it is a good change of scene. I havent been eating all that much, but when I do the food is delicious:) For breakfast they normally serve just toast and a chocolately milk thing, which is pretty good. Lunch and dinner are much more hearty meals consisting of rice, always rice, lettuce, tomatoes, soup, a meat of some kind mostly pollo-chicken or pescado-fish.
My work at the orphanage has been eye opening as far as the things that I have seen. I wont go into much depth because it is very disheartening, but every child here has a major issue that we are trying to help them with. Many have cleft lip, are missing an appendage or two or three, have severe burns, the list goes on and on. The children here deal with more pain and agony in a single day than anyone should have to deal with in a lifetime. Not to mention that many of these children were found malnourished, abandoned, or left in the streets. Each day as I see more children and learn about their lives and what they have gone through, I feel so spoiled to have grown up in such a wonderful place with a great community. Don't take your blessing for granted- my advice to you.
Until next time, adios chicos
mo
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
day of departure
I am sitting at the lA airport trying to guess what my next nine months will be like. Its hard to imagine but the unknown certainly has an intense excitement and mystery to it. My flight leaves at 1 am tonight and goes to el Salvador. From there I fly directly to Lima. I am going straight to the orphanage on arrival and will start my volunteer work the following day. I have an eleven hour layover now so I'm off into LA for the next four-five hours or so. Adios
Don't worry mom, I'm not going by myself. Ha I'm meeting up with ivory
Don't worry mom, I'm not going by myself. Ha I'm meeting up with ivory
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Departure
Today is the 26th so the countdown is six days; less than a week! I fly out of Boise the morning of the 31st to Denver, then L.A., then El Salvador, and then to Lima, Peru, which is my first stop. I will be working in an orphanage at the base of the Andes for the month of September.
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