13th December 2009 - Ayacucho to Brazil

My trip to South America is fast becoming a reality as my ticket to Lima is booked and all necessary paperwork completed for CCS. I wont know exactly what kind of placement I will be allocated but I have been pretty adamant about working with infants and children although I wouldn't mind teaching English to older kids or even adults. We will see - but not until two weeks before I depart. Rob has pointed out that no alcohol is allowed in the volunteer house - WHAT?????

Rob has finalised the Brazil part of this amazing adventure and I will be meeting him in Rio on April 3rd. We have a varied itinerary ranging from sightseeing in Rio and Salvador, horseback riding in the wetlands of the Pantanal and ending up on the beach in Trancoso, La Bahia. It sounds amazing and will be wonderful to look forward to if I get a bit homesick [or alcohol withdrawn] in Peru.

In the meantime, my Spanish is impoving slowly - quite hard work - but at least I should be able to get around and about even if I went now.

16th November 2009 - Brazil or Argentina?

When I finish working in Peru, I will meet Rob in South America for a couple of weeks holiday. [Something to look forward to if I get a bit homesick] Cant make up our minds wether to go to Brazil or Argentina so if anyone has any amazing suggestions on either destination, please let me know. We want to explore but end up for the last few days on a lovely quiet beach somewhere just to chill. My last week in Peru will be Semana Santa which is the week before Easter when Ayacucho is awash with celebrations and festivities including a bull run. This is something that cant be missed and I am very excited about being there at that time. In the meantime, back to the Spanish lessons and guide books.

Thursday 5th November - Decision finally made!

After weeks of talking about it, today I finally hit the 'Accept' button and committed myself to a month's volunteer work in Peru next March. I have chosen a town called Ayacucho which is about 9,000ft up, in an Andean valley. The work I am hoping to do will be helping out in an orphanage or possibly in a day care centre where children go while their parents are working. I have joined an organisation called Cross Cultural Solutions who seem very supportive to wimps like me who need an encouraging shove when it comes to setting off on my own half way across the world. One of my anxieties is that I will be the oldest of all the volunteers [let's just say I was born shortly after WW2] and I will have noone to play with when not working! It is, however, very exciting and I will now have to get my head down to improve my Spanish. If anyone has any advice and additional encouragement, I would be very happy to hear from you.