05 June 2008

All good things come to an end I suppose

This will be my last blog entry as my time here in Trujillo is finally coming to an end. I have been here for 5 months and it has been a truly amazing experience. Initially I was suppose to be here for 3 months but I extended the stay when I realised just how much I was enjoying it and how much good work there was to be done. I am a sad to be leaving because I am going to miss the kids of Porvenir a lot, but that’s life I suppose.

I am looking forward to seeing my family and meeting up with my friends again. I really can’t wait to get good pint of Harp (Irish beer) as the beer out here isn’t the same. I don’t have too much time at home as I am going to Kenya on the 23rd of June. I am going to work in an orphanage north of Nairobi.

Since it was the last week, Robert and I decided to have a special class with the kids. This week we brought in music and a guitar to the classrooms and played various types of music to the kids. We played rock ‘n’ roll, metal, classical, dance etc...we would then get the kids to write whether they like it, loved it, really like it, hated it or didn’t like it. The kids loved this lesson. Then after this, we all sang John Denver’s ‘Leaving on a Jet plane’ but in Spanish on the guitar. We felt it was appropriate as we are leaving. The kids really enjoyed this.




Last weekend I went to a little town in the Andes called Otusco with my girlfriend Mayra. This was only a day trip. It normally takes a 2 hour bus journey on a treacherous road. However, the bus broke down and then we hitch-hiked on the back of a truck all the way to Otusco, us and about 12 other people! Here is the bus after it broke down:

The weekend before that, the volunteers and I went camping in a nearby town called Poroto. This was very relaxing and was in the middle of a beautiful mountain range in the Andes.




I leave on Sunday night. It takes nearly 3 days to get home considering everything. It is going to be very strange not going to Porvenir on Monday morning.

I would like to say it has been a pleasure working for SKIP and would recommend it to any potential volunteers. I have really enjoyed working with Robert. I have a feeling we will talk about Porvenir for many years to come. All the volunteers have been fantastic but a special mention must go to our director Bee. She does incredible work here and having lived with her, I can appreciate how dedicated she is to the cause.

Finally, I want to mention to kids of Porvenir not just with SKIP but with Indoamericano and Lizarzaburu. They have been by far the best part of my time here in Peru. I just hope that by me being a part of their lives for just a small time has made has made a positive impact on them.


If any potential volunteers have any queries, feel free to contact me m1572202@qub.ac.uk

For the last time, adios

Prof Jose Antonio