14th October 2009
It was a bit of a struggle trying to close the lid of the suitcase, by we've made it - all packed and ready for the off. Our itinerary for the next few months can be found here.
12th October 2009
We started visiting the colleges this morning with our prepared letter and information and already have a booking for Wednesday to come and talk to their oldest students about studying at the PCT Centre. Looks like it is a strategy that could bear some fruit.
11th October 2009
Another day trip out in honour of our leaving. This time, we went with Manuel and some of the other folk involved with the Peru Children's Trust and went on a bit of a tour of the valley. We started with the town of Concepcion and went to the top of the nearby hill that is crowned by an enormous statue, then moved on to Ingenio, famed for its trout (which was excellent), then to Ocopa where the oldest convent in all of South America is to be found, then to Paca lake, close to Jauja, Peru's original capital. It was great to get out and about to see more of the valley and appreciate a little more the area in which we're based.
In the evening, we said our farewells at church - a sad time for us all, but February is not too far away.
10th October 2009
In honour of Rachel's forthcoming birthday and our imminent departure, we went out with some church folk to Mayopampa, a recreational complex at the lowest point in the valley. We had a nice time, chatting and eating lunch and, when the weather had cooled down somewhat, playing volleyball and going in a pedalo.
9th October 2009
Started thinking about leaving - bought our bus tickets back to Lima today, so we now how a deadline for packing and tying up all the loose ends...
8th October 2009
We had a full-on day today with nearly all the students from the Peru Children's Trust, arriving to draw and prepare Christmas cards for their sponsors in the UK. It may be only October, but the idea will be that we can take them back to the UK with us next week. My role was to take 3 sets of photos of all the children as they arrived. All of them are shorter than me and many very much so. After taking more than 500 photos, my knees are aching somewhat!
4th October 2009
Went to David and Charo's for a lunch in honour of his birthday and met ALL the family. Peruvian gatherings can be quite odd, where people sit around the edge of the room not really talking to each other, eating when the grub arrives and then leaving fairly soon afterwards. Many of the invitees had an excuse this time, however. After stuffing themselves with food, they revealed that their church was holding a fast day and they had to return to the meeting!!
3rd October 2009
Have finalised the details to a letter which we hope to present to many of the college headmasters in the city and surrounding areas. We are hoping to get a invitation to speak to their students, especially their leavers, and advertise the PCT Centre. Hopefully, such presentations will bring in more students and mean that we can get that bit closer to being financially self-sustaining.
