The sounds of crashing batons and childrens' laughter floated through the early afternoon air. Watching intently, their little voices screeched with delight as two street performers juggled their giant bowling pins around either side of the 5 numbered and nervous children standing in a row. "Quatro!" one of the jugglers yelled, while some gasped with fright and others yelped excitedly. Number 4 came running from the line and back to his classmates, just barely missing the flying pin. Little voices everywhere were murmuring words of anticipation as the jugglers kept throwing their pins and more yelling numbers as the corresponding child went sprinting from the line. It was my first day with the children from Elohim Elementary School, but I was already in love.
It was the first visit (and first field trip) for many of the kindergardeners to the Plaza de Armas, the central plaza of the city of Arequipa, Perú. In preparation for el Dia de Arequipa on August 15, the children were visiting the plaza to learn about their city and it's beautiful sights including an entire plaza made from stunning white volcanic rock. How sweet they were as I said goodbye to them after all 16 were packed into the back of a little white minivan and they hung their arms and faces out the window and continued waving until they were out of sight.
That was the beginning of my 2 weeks at Elohim School. It wasn't nearly enough, but I was grateful for the time that I got to spend with those little people. A stark contrast from the preschool in Chile, these kids come to school wearing the same dirty clothes each day because they haven't had an opportunity to bathe. As an incentive, the school provides breakfast and lunch for the children. Before this was offered there were about 30 children who attended whereas now there are upwards of 120.
Their little cheeks are always dry and cracked from the harsh desert elements; too much exposure to the sun and the wind. While they do have electricity (a very recent development), the school isn't equipped with running water so it is necessary to dump a bucket of water down the toilet after a visit to the restroom. The women in the kitchen use the same buckets of water all day long to clease vegetables, dishes, tables... needless to say it is brown and full of germs by the end of the day.
Many of the children work after school. I was told by Jay, the volunteer coordinator, that one little girl's parents actually check her underwear at night to see if she is hiding any money there after work. Before the Arequipa holiday, at the end of the schoolday, I listened as one of the teachers said a prayer with the students. One of the first things she asked for was for God to watch over the children who have to go to work after school, that they might be safe on the streets...
But even in the midst of all of this, the children are exuberant. So sweet and full of life and happiness, they love climbing all over the volunteers that come to play with them. And they love cameras. All of them want their picture taken and of course, to be able to see it afterwards on the screen.
I was fortunate enough to be able to work with the first/second grade classroom and help them with their reading skills. And I got to watch as they learned their fancy little dance for Arequipa week :)
As sad as I am to go from here, my Peruvian visa runs out on the 19th and so I have to be on my way. Also as my funds have been running a bit low, I found a free bed and food in a hostel in exchange for night work in the reception office. The people are a bit strange, it's not too bad of a set-up really, but I'm definitely ready to leave this silly hostel!
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