Editor’s note: for chronological clarity, this entry was written on Friday. Today was day 6 in Peru- day 3 at munaychay! We started the day bright and early with a breakfast consisting of bread with jam and butter along with scrambled eggs courtesy of Jack and Cortlin. Next it was time to start the work….
It was warm out this morning rather than the usual cool. Our breakfast crew, promptly after wake up, cooked a delicious breakfast of oatmeal -Mazel tov. Everyone got ready- two full water bottles, sunscreen and full brimmed hat in hand – and began the walk down to the bus, some stepping with exhaustion, some with…
We awoke from our slumbers quite early. We stuffed everything we could in our packs in preparation for the excursion to Isla Del Sol. Although we were tired, the lively city of La Paz was fully awake. Our breakfast consisted of bread and corn flakes, a nutritious start to our day. The bus to take…
This place feels like home. It’s a strange thing to say, because I don’t usually sleep with a bug net over my bed, find geckos in my shower, or live on a tropical island. Yet, only two days into our stay at Ometepe, it feels like home. After a delicious breakfast at the Hacienda Merida,…
Today we had a relaxing morning with breakfast of bread and tampi (barley paste that is great with peanut butter). We then packed our bags and said goodbye to our first homestay families. We set off to next homestay, stopping along the way in a small town for shopping and lunch. We also stopped at…
I’m not phased by a lot. In most settings, this is helpful (like being the only one not to cry at the end of The Notebook.) So when I stepped out of the Nicaraguan airport, nothing really hit me except for humid air. Granada, of course, was wonderful, as you heard in Jaxon’s amazing post….
Today in the afternoon we visited the home of the grandmother of one of the children at KACH, Dennis. Even though we were complete strangers, and it was a primitive home, we were welcomed with friendly smiles. Dennis’ grandmother, Ella, showed us around her farm and told us about the different crops she grows on…
Part One For the past week, we have been fortunate enough to have a well-trained yogi teach us yoga. Although his teachings are more Buddhist-related, the messages learned can apply to anyone willing to open their hearts. For example, he told the group that some people meditate for up to 50 years and still have…
I’m sitting in a van, mind wandering around while I solemnly gaze at the rainforest flying by my window. Occasional bumps and potholes keep me awake. Housing projects start to come into view, unfinished and brightly colored. I’m feeling tired, I hope we’re there soon. I’m leaning against a wooden gate, mostly surrounded by rainforest…
Today was our last full day in Rurre, and it was a pretty chill day hanging out around the hammocks and Rurre. In the morning, we met with town officials to ask them questions about our lenses but not before getting a snack from a nearby bakery. We learned about Bolivia’s economy, government, culture, and…
Long day making barrels in the rain, but the kids had a great attitude and worked hard. After the work day we took a hike up a nearby mountain to see the om mani peme hung Buddhist mantra carved into its side. Saw lots of yaks along the way.
Last Planting Day: Today we again planted grasses (a different variety) in the lake with the dibble tools. After that, we ate lunch under a bridge and met Rusty, a Park Ranger on Lake Pontchartrain who is a former member of the military. He escorted us to the park visitor center and showed us a…
In the early morning of Nepal, the giggles of girls a floor below us SSTS members ring throughout the house. A bell chimes for breakfast,older girls help the younger ones get ready for school, and Krishma is leading it all. Young in spirit and at heart, Krishma is capable of instilling confidence and self respect…
After an extremely cold night, Callie woke us up for our first work day. We started off with a delicious breakfast of bread, jam, and bananas, complemented by Manzanilla tea. Inka, one of the German volunteers led us to the work site where the boys would start digging up stairs where the children would read and where…
Today our groups had the chance to visit two amazing NGOs: Tiny Toones and PSE. At Tiny Toones, we spoke with Short, the General Manager of the school. He was born in Thailand in a refugee camp after his parents fled from Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge. They were able to resettle in the United…
After lunch we traveled to a primary school called Marere. We couldn’t get to the school by car, which meant a lot of walking through dry, barren land. The kids who attend the school have to walk up to 2.5 hours to get to their school. We were walking through the typical lens of a…
Visited Lhamotse and Dorjetrak Monasteries. Met with more members of our NGO: The Tibetan Village Project
Today was a travel day from Phnom Penh to Kratie. Thankfully, the bus ride was split up by a stop at Spider Village, a market place distinguished by venders selling cooked insects: scorpions, spiders, crickets, and others. We all had the courage to try them. Not only did we have the chance to eat the…
There is no replacement for shoulder-to-shoulder immersion in a community to appreciate humanity’s common bonds: the foundation for impassioned Global Citizenship.
Today was the day that we finished up our work at the community and headed back to Rurrenabaque, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that the fruits of our labor were well worth the hard work. On our way to the boat, we were able to give the community the gifts…
The SStS Nursery and Building Teams: The building we are currently working on is going to be more lodging and meeting space at Tiriji, their eco-center that will be used for leadership conferences and other income generating services, including bio-intensive agricultural training. Another self-sustaining aspect of the KACH model is organic agriculture. Today we prepared…
Wow, I now know what true grunt work entails. Over the past two days, our group has traveled to the community, Embocada, to deliver filters, fix ones already there, and set up the ones we brought. On Sunday our group split in two; one staying in Rurrenabaque to help get more supplies while the other…
Today our SSTS group visited two very emotional areas, the S-21 torture camp and the Killing Fields. Our trip to s21 invoked numerous emotions in the first building of the abandoned school screamed pain. (editor’s note: the photo is of a contemplative SStS student on the grounds of S21) The building had the beds of…
We have only been here in Nepal for about a week and I have already made so many memories that I will cherish forever. While in Kathmandu we toured the Monkey temple and several stupas. We were all blown away by the amount of prayer flags that lined the temples. It has been amazing seeing…
Hey Mom—we’re all good here, J. And to other parents too, everyone else will write soon. Today, we toured the grounds of IPI. As a part of the tour, we visited one of the family farms, belonging to “Mamma Sophie.” She and her husband began with a look inside their home—followed by a glimpse at…
Today was our second day in Cusco. We woke up early to have breakfast and start our adventure. After breakfast, we met our tour guide Maria who was with us the whole day. She took us to visit some Cusco archaeological sites such as Qenqo and Sacsayhuaman, which were built during the Inca Empire. Joseph…
After a lunch of yak and potato momos (dumpling native to Tibet), the whole group hung out in the hostel restaurant to play cards. We stayed together for a walk in a park to watch locals feed schools of fish and a bale (editor’s choice) of turtles. Our local cuisine continued with a unique dinner:…
The buses beside me were filled with sad and serious faces, condemned to the hardships of life, but our bus was filled with the giddy faces of excited girls, their joyous songs echoing throughout the vehicle. For many of them, it was the first time to see a movie theater, thus their faces beamed…
Our crew is hauling life-saving water filters down the Rio Beni for the next few days. In the context of learning of basic health issues at this level in the “hierarchy of needs,” you, too, can learn more about the Rio Beni Health Foundation by going to http://staging.shouldertoshoulder-old.com/rio-beni-health-foundation/. This SStS page has a button on the…