The Final Days (PERU)

Hello Blog Followers!


My name is Nikhil Patel, and in a couple days I will be starting my grad year at Michigan!
EGL finally returned to the USA last Tuesday after a riveting Volunteer Abroad Experience in Peru. The last week of the of the trip consisted of completing the greenhouse with the final mud-bricks and roof frame, a breath-taking experience at Macchu Picchu, a soccer game against the local Peruvians in the mountains, and a rewarding time teaching children about hygiene, sports, and education. 

The greenhouse was completed with the help of worker's from Peru's Challenge, and as some of us laid the final mud-bricks for the roof, a separate group lifted logs from the top of a hills down to the work site. These logs were used to create a roof frame that was used to hold transparent plastic of the greenhouse in place. As the house got closer to being finished members or the community joined us and helped us make the last push! Once it was completed, all of the mothers including Maria (for whom we were building the greenhouse for) expressed there tremendous gratitude for our group's work. Following tradition, the mothers adorned us with flowers they grew, large and colorful string necklaces, and confetti they called pica pica. Vicki, Gina, and I were also invited to break a bottle of champagne as a groundbreaking ceremony of sorts. 

The day before the house was completed, the local Peruvians who worked with Peru's Challenge challenged EGL to a soccer grudge match. Its no secret that soccer in South America, is equivalent to football in the United States.  The game was first team to 8 points. Let's say it was Team Peru vs. Team EGL. Team Peru eventually got to a 6-4 lead; however, Team EGL roared back and scored four consecutive goals to win the match! Simply running in such a high altitude proved to be a very humbling experience. The MVP of the game was probably Vicki, who scored two goals: one of which should have made SportsCenter's Top 10. 

On our final weekend we began our journey to Macchu Picchu, one of the original seven wonders of the world! A city hidden by clouds, proved to be a majestic, and awe-inspiring experience.  Be on the look out for more blog posts from other EGLs about their experience at Macchu Piccu!

Personally, the most valuable learning I acquired is the understanding of the importance of exceptional education geared toward the development of children's ambition and opportunity. Never before had I realized the value of a teacher like the way I did in Peru when I saw children blossoming in a community without internet or clean water.