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Happy New Year!


As requested, this is a photo post showing most of the events that have taken place in the last two-ish months.To see the photos at a larger scale, just double click on the photo!
So, here are some of the things we did:

 

We got to know (are still getting to know) the local parish, San Pedro Ápostol, aka the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas"

We visited Pikillacta--Wari (pre-Inca) ruins near Andahuaylillas

  

We attempted to keep the art of planking alive in Peru...and kind of had to explain it to some of the other volunteers

We took an album cover photo-- Anda JVs "in the field" (credit goes to Mallory for that).

We said goodbye to the outgoing JVs: Sam, Mateo, and Mallory (with Sister Rosario and Sister Myleni)

We danced.

We met our host families (my sister, Ceci, in stripes and my mom, Eva, is in the pink top in the back right)

We (Sarah and I) lived in Cusco for two weeks (I lived about a 15 minute walk from the Plaza de Armas)

We explored Cusco (Calle Resbalosa "slippery street")

We philosophized ("We went out not looking for eachother but we went out knowing that we would find eachother...")

We celebrated Dia de Andahuaylillas (bands from local schools, Fe y Alegria and Luis Vallejo performed together to commemorate the occasion)

We watched and mingled

 

Ceci (my host sister), Marta (a Spanish volunteer) and yours truly

 

We celebrated the last lunch of the comedor (cafeteria at the church) of the year. This is the group of 300 kids who sang "Happy Birthday" to me in English and Spanish (reference to a previous post). 

We ate yummy food from Señora Estela (serving) and Señora Cirila (top right corner) at the comedor

Susan and Mallory announced the winners of "best helper"and "most attendance" for each grade level.

We enjoyed an informal Christmas music performance from some of the kids!

I turned 23!

Susan made funny faces

3 generations of Andahuaylillas JVs

Sarah made homemade carrot cake

We enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with the sisters and Brian´s family.

Susan dressed as Mary for the live nativity

Joseph with the shephardesses

Sarah played the cajón and the bongos even as a shephardess

Brian making his debut..as Joesph or as a member of the Beatles (circa Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band) is still up for debate 

Mary ready to show off her newborn babe

We went hiking!

The norhern part of the valley

The southern part of the valley (Andahaylillas is the town in the bottom right)

 Overall, it´s been a full and festive two months. 

I am excited to see what else 2013 has in store and I look forward to sharing it with you!