Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Adam
Hometown: Sheffield
Destination: Peru
Project type: Teaching English and Inca Projects
Organisation: Projects Abroad
What were your impressions of your destination?
I guess I didn't know what to expect when I first thought about Peru, it certainly wasn't what I found. Mud huts with no electricity and a straw bed was the image painted to me by a colleague who'd ventured there a few years previously. Mud brick buildings, yes, but two storeys with terrace and balcony were what greeted me in Urubamba, as for electricity they had enough to keep an internet cafe every ten paces running! The family were amazing, warm and accommodating, whilst my initial poor knowledge of their language may have been the butt of a couple of jokes. Cusco was vibrant, if a little too full of young tourists (I'd missed out on the 'gap year' by a few years at this point) and bohemians in the main meat market clubs of Mama Americas and Mama Africas. Still, you had to respect any town where you can still drink until 5am! There are a lot of young pick-pockets about so there was a necessity to stay at least a little alert or keep valuables out of sight and tiny hand. Also, this is a Latin American c ountry who don't have the same thoughts on equal rights as some Western places so walking around a small town in skimpy clothing leads to wolf whistles, shouts and what could be intimidating behaviour, or in my case getting water chucked at me. This isn't a night out in Manchester or Piccadilly so it's not good practice to dress like it is.
All in all the locals of the Sacred Valley were a very friendly people, just as intrigued by our culture as we were by theirs. As with most places, if you approached them with politeness you would get the same in return. Pace of life was slow, don't expect big-city speed of things, unless you're on a very thin stretch of road in a taxi heading along the side of the Andes. This will come as a shock to some from the larger cities so be careful not to let impatience creep in, after all the different culture is what drives you there. Haggling was great fun though there's a fine line between fair price and ripping them off. A lot of traders and taxi drivers see tourists, and volunteers, as a target for over-pricing so it was necessary to look out for this and learn what things actually cost from locals and volunteer staff. Local cuisine is...interesting, like those pet guinea pigs at home...? They like to chuck a lot of food at you as well, my first meal came as a bit of a shock when the large bowl of soup com plete with meat on the bone was closely followed with a large plate of rice and chicken. Ah yes, rice. Be prepared for it. And choclo con queso. There were loads of areas of the culture to explore and I'd definitely recommend reading up on it's history to really find out what makes Peru Peru. It's not all golden condors and cities of gold. Obviously there isn't enough space to go into all the areas and trips available but there is something for everyone here, art; culture; bars; clubs; scenery; ruins; rainforests...I couldn't sum up my experience as every time I try to remember it I remember a different event/emotion/anecdote. There's so much there and there's so much I had to miss but what a place. Just look at any photos on the web, it really is a captivating and amazing place.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
Teaching English was a very rewarding experience. I wasn't teaching the kids most expected, but teaching in a summer school for teachers. It was tough at times but good fun. One of my best memories of the whole 4 months over there is of the cards presented to me by my class on my birthday, I still have them and read them when my 9-5 begins to get me down. Working in pairs we had to plan the class and conduct all the lessons. I ended up working in 3 different schools whilst over there before moving to the next project. The students were sometimes trying, it seems sitting and learning wasn't really what did it for some people, so sometimes it was necessary to lay the law down a little but most were good pupils. Support was available but not always on hand from the volunteer co-ordinators. Lessons were generally planned back at the volunteer centre (or Pintachas), materials were supplied and more could be bought in on the volunteer budget. Volunteers are generally given responsibility for how they teach and ideas were shared amongst the group. It was good that this level of independence was available, it gave a good opportunity to develop individual skills without been told exactly what to do.
When I moved on to the Inca Projects I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I was transferred to a house in Zurite, sort of like going from Leeds to Peterborough, in the middle of nowhere with strange new people. These strange new people turned out to be really nice (here the analogy ends) but the town was still the size of a gnat's personals. But this wasn't the problem (we still located the local off license), neither was the bizarre wake up shouts from the local church, giving me the feeling I'd fallen asleep and woken up in Morocco. No, what niggled me was the work, which consisted of hacking with a machete the pieces of shrub growing on Inca terraces. This wasn't the ruin development work I'd been promised. I later found out that was due to the fact the main supervisor of such work was on holiday, something I wasn't told and which would have swayed my decision to actually do this type of project. In fact, this was the main gripe with the organisation as it appeared the British office had not be en entirely honest in the available of the projects offered. Teachers were not informed that the schools were still on holiday and Inca projects were based on community work (cleaning a road at one point) then actually working with ruins. Ok, I was a little miffed at the Inca Projects but I still loved the teaching and don't regret it one bit. This, coupled with the gap between the summer school closing and the main schools opening been filled with the development of a new pre-school, left many volunteers disgruntled. To be honest though the wall building was great fun at the pre-school and lead to me trying my first litre of Chicha, now that's an interesting drink.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
The accommodation was basic but comfortable and the family were great. I was living with a family of 3, with maid and another volunteer. The mother of the family was very kind and took you in as part of the family, firing questions at you about your own family, life and country. I found this not a only a great way to get to know the family but also develop my Spanish. The maid was always around trying to wash your clothes or cook you more food. I chose to take pictures of my family and city with me, which proved a good way of introducing conversation. As mentioned, meals were large and always on offer, tea and coffee was available and the dogs were always around. That last one may not be such a positive. Wildlife will get into your rooms, my friend downstairs having a scorpion sit on a ledge and myself getting a couple of very un-friendly looking spiders sit straight above my head over the bed. Still, that's what Deet's for (sorry any Buddhist's out there, they can always be moved another way). I can hone stly say I miss the family over there, they made me feel very welcomed and I got to know them well over the 3 months I stayed with them. I'd definitely visit them if I were to find myself in that area again. Staying with a family is the best way to be part of the community, the shout out on radio from the father of the family proves that point!
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
The TAPA office staff were friendly and helpful for the most part. They were always around a good laugh when the water festival arrived! The Volunteer Co-Coordinator in Peru was charged with a difficult position of working with local education leaders and volunteers and try to get the Peruvian pace of life to accommodate TAPA schedules and volunteers arriving. This was why the school periods were not running to the times stated, but this information could have been passed on by the UK staff. It was a hard working office behind the scenes and the co-ordinator could sometimes be abrupt, but working on a gap year project isn't the same as studying and so it's not meant to be all a holiday. After all the office still had to meet the expectations of the local education authority or they may refuse to take on volunteer teachers at all. Communication was really what was sometimes lacking, it can be difficult in the areas they worked in but still needed improving, for example I was swapped schools without notice one morning. The staff would support you if you were having difficulties in class and there were team events offered as well as a football team.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
The biggie. Well the whole thing began to rack up towards heading over there and I began asking myself this quite a bit. I think for a first time trip then, yes, this is value for money. I still believe the projects actually did some good, unlike others I witnessed over there and teaching left a great sense of achievement. You knew there was a large organisation behind you so money wasn't just filtering into some young entrepreneur's pocket and it's not the most expensive organisation to go abroad with. Would I use them again? No. There are other ways to achieve a similar result. Would I recommend them? Yes. If this is your first trip away you should definitely use someone with the experience in your chosen country. You will benefit a whole lot more from it.
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
