Thats it for now. Gotta go pack my bags and head home.
Just been to a restaurant for lunch. The waiter stuck a Scottish flag on our table.
All very welcoming in these parts.
Will try to write some mnore about my trip when I get home.
Sorry about all the posts all at once, but should keep ypu going for a while. Been busy and not had much time to write.
This is the first time I've not had to buy more books since I started coming here. Im still reading Home.
Thats it.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Villa Maria del Triunfo view from the market
They all live up on the hill. Lima is surrounded with these barriadas (favelas)
Bravehearts of Lima
My last day in Villa Maria del Triunfo I bought the kids some fruit, oranges and apples, and got a round of applause from 25 kids. They all arrive about 1 pm and have their lunch. Flor chose to let them know that I had made a small donation so that she could give them a wee party at Xmas. So I got another round of applause from them. They are such a great bunch of kids. They've only known me for a short space of time but they all seemed sad to see me go.
As I was leaving some of them came along to the taxi to wave goodbye. A few piled into the taxi and wanted to come to Scotland to see William Wallace. They think we fight the english still. Maybe we do. Everybody here has seen Braveheart and it seems to be the picture they have of us. That and the bagpipes and our faldas.
The kids all wanted me to come back next year, which I promised to do. Somehow they got it in their heads that I'm coming back in January. So I guess I will just have to keep my promise to them. How could I resist such an invitation folks?
I'm so glad to have met Flor and to have been able to spend time with her and the kids. It is a privelege to have worked with them. The experience has been unforgettable for me. Reading about these kinds of places is worthwhile to to be there and to see and feel it all is a whole different sensation altogether.
These children have such hard lives, as do their parents really, yet here they come every day all smiles and playfulness and so willing to learn. Then they have to go back up the hill to god knows what. They are an inspiration to me, and I really hope to spend more time with them.
I will post some photos now. And thanks Flor for showing me around your part of the world and for all the work you do there.
As I was leaving some of them came along to the taxi to wave goodbye. A few piled into the taxi and wanted to come to Scotland to see William Wallace. They think we fight the english still. Maybe we do. Everybody here has seen Braveheart and it seems to be the picture they have of us. That and the bagpipes and our faldas.
The kids all wanted me to come back next year, which I promised to do. Somehow they got it in their heads that I'm coming back in January. So I guess I will just have to keep my promise to them. How could I resist such an invitation folks?
I'm so glad to have met Flor and to have been able to spend time with her and the kids. It is a privelege to have worked with them. The experience has been unforgettable for me. Reading about these kinds of places is worthwhile to to be there and to see and feel it all is a whole different sensation altogether.
These children have such hard lives, as do their parents really, yet here they come every day all smiles and playfulness and so willing to learn. Then they have to go back up the hill to god knows what. They are an inspiration to me, and I really hope to spend more time with them.
I will post some photos now. And thanks Flor for showing me around your part of the world and for all the work you do there.
Manana me toca a mi
Cabaret was suberb. Brilliant singing, dancing and acting.
I first heard the expression me toca a mi used in La Policia de la Familia in Cusco. Fernando taught me. Those of you who have been paying attention will remember him. If not you can go back and read all about him now. One day I will go and find him and see how his life turned out.
He used it when we played games and it means my turn next or my go etc and is commonly used. Its the phrase used to translate "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" in Cabaret. It was powerful stuff. Gave me that feeling of dread and fear. I couldn't applaud thsat little number, but the crowd did. Hopefully for the right reasons.
The actress playing the Sally Bowles part was terrific. She's called Rossana Fernandez Maldonado. Her version of Cabaret matches Liza.
I see Edinburgh had its own fascists in town this week. Hope you all went along to give him a suitable welcome.
More later all being well.
I first heard the expression me toca a mi used in La Policia de la Familia in Cusco. Fernando taught me. Those of you who have been paying attention will remember him. If not you can go back and read all about him now. One day I will go and find him and see how his life turned out.
He used it when we played games and it means my turn next or my go etc and is commonly used. Its the phrase used to translate "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" in Cabaret. It was powerful stuff. Gave me that feeling of dread and fear. I couldn't applaud thsat little number, but the crowd did. Hopefully for the right reasons.
The actress playing the Sally Bowles part was terrific. She's called Rossana Fernandez Maldonado. Her version of Cabaret matches Liza.
I see Edinburgh had its own fascists in town this week. Hope you all went along to give him a suitable welcome.
More later all being well.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Villa Maria del Triunfo
This is where I ended up working. Its another centre for street kids run by INABIF. They have an educational programme for them. I worked with Flor who runs the centre single handed. She is superb anbd has been great for me toi get to know. Yesterday we had twenty five kids in the place, aged from about 8 to 15. When I left she was all on her own with them. How she manages is a miracle. She needs help but the government has no money to pay for more help. They do their best.
Villa Maria del Triunfo is on the very outskirts of Lima, about thirty minutes from where I stay on the southside. Its what they call a barriados or asentamientos humanos or invasiones. Its what they call Favelas in Brazil. Slums built ilegally on the hillsides surrounding Lima, populated mostly by people from the countryside. Many who fled from Shining Path activities in fear of their lives, but most who came to flee poverty only to find worse. Lima is surrounded by these barriados. I will post some pictures tonorrow. But you can see photos on the web of similar stuff in brazil.
Yesterday Flor took me for a tour round the place. It was an experience that fairly got the old heart pumping away, but after a while I relaxed and all was well.
Flor talks to the street kids as we meet them and tells them about the centre and invites them along. Yesterday we spoke to two young boys selling flowers. I bought some off them. They have to do this to survive.
Its hard to describe the poverty and problems without going over the top, so I won't. Just leave it to your imagination. Its grim out here. In one of the these barriados there is a TB epidemic, the worst in the world I'm lead to believe. Treatment is hard because of drug and alcohol problems. They dont take their medicine because they prefer drugs or drink. Them the TB gets worse and needs more expensive drugs to treat it. And then the children and young people get it because it spreads so much.
Then there is the housing up in the hillside. No water or electricity and no roads. They use the little motos to get up there. You can see them shown as all romantic in various places on web or films. They are far from that.
The houses are not much more than cardboard. Two rooms and usually 3 or 4 children all in one room. You can imagine the problems that causes. Thirteen children are sexually abused every day. Don't ask where the figurw cane from but I did see it on a poster some place here.
But still these kids keep smiling, and Flor does her best. More tomorrow.
Villa Maria del Triunfo is on the very outskirts of Lima, about thirty minutes from where I stay on the southside. Its what they call a barriados or asentamientos humanos or invasiones. Its what they call Favelas in Brazil. Slums built ilegally on the hillsides surrounding Lima, populated mostly by people from the countryside. Many who fled from Shining Path activities in fear of their lives, but most who came to flee poverty only to find worse. Lima is surrounded by these barriados. I will post some pictures tonorrow. But you can see photos on the web of similar stuff in brazil.
Yesterday Flor took me for a tour round the place. It was an experience that fairly got the old heart pumping away, but after a while I relaxed and all was well.
Flor talks to the street kids as we meet them and tells them about the centre and invites them along. Yesterday we spoke to two young boys selling flowers. I bought some off them. They have to do this to survive.
Its hard to describe the poverty and problems without going over the top, so I won't. Just leave it to your imagination. Its grim out here. In one of the these barriados there is a TB epidemic, the worst in the world I'm lead to believe. Treatment is hard because of drug and alcohol problems. They dont take their medicine because they prefer drugs or drink. Them the TB gets worse and needs more expensive drugs to treat it. And then the children and young people get it because it spreads so much.
Then there is the housing up in the hillside. No water or electricity and no roads. They use the little motos to get up there. You can see them shown as all romantic in various places on web or films. They are far from that.
The houses are not much more than cardboard. Two rooms and usually 3 or 4 children all in one room. You can imagine the problems that causes. Thirteen children are sexually abused every day. Don't ask where the figurw cane from but I did see it on a poster some place here.
But still these kids keep smiling, and Flor does her best. More tomorrow.
Caberet
Tonight I'm going to the theatre to see Caberet in Spanish. I've not spoken a word of English since I arrived back in Lima so writing this blog is a major achievement. My Spanish is much improved but still need people to speak a little slower.
But thats ok for most folk here.
Taxi drivers are very talkative for the most part. This week one of them decided to play me some bagpipe music which he just happened to have in his mp3 player. I don't know if he expected me to burst into song or not, but anyway I resisted that temptation. He then asked if it would be ok to go and pick up his wife along the way. So we did and she was very pleasant and gave me a chocolate. Saye he will visit me next year.
Last year, and stop me if I told you this one before, a taxi driver in Cusco was playing Buffalo Soldier while we drove along. This year we had a repeat performance. I don't know if he remembered me or not, probably not. But it was nice all the same. Another popular little number with cusco taximen is Emotional Rescue.
Last week I went for lunch to my lawyer friends Fernando's house as he was home from Cusco for a few days. Met his family and hopefully one day he will visit me in Edinburgh. Thanks Fernando. Hope you are still trying to read my blog.
But thats ok for most folk here.
Taxi drivers are very talkative for the most part. This week one of them decided to play me some bagpipe music which he just happened to have in his mp3 player. I don't know if he expected me to burst into song or not, but anyway I resisted that temptation. He then asked if it would be ok to go and pick up his wife along the way. So we did and she was very pleasant and gave me a chocolate. Saye he will visit me next year.
Last year, and stop me if I told you this one before, a taxi driver in Cusco was playing Buffalo Soldier while we drove along. This year we had a repeat performance. I don't know if he remembered me or not, probably not. But it was nice all the same. Another popular little number with cusco taximen is Emotional Rescue.
Last week I went for lunch to my lawyer friends Fernando's house as he was home from Cusco for a few days. Met his family and hopefully one day he will visit me in Edinburgh. Thanks Fernando. Hope you are still trying to read my blog.
Working in Lima
Its been a bit hectic here in Lima for past few weeks and now I'm about to leave so maybe I should update this little blog of mine. I'm just about to go out but have a few minutes while I await.
Life in Lima is very different to Cusco. To say the least its more adrenalin creative. Some places I go to the taximen say is too dangerous for them.
I've been working with INABIF which is a government department here in Peru. I would put a link on here but its all in Spanish. So now I'm a civil servant here in Peru too. Doubly blessed.
Lidia from Hogar de Cristo introduced me to INABIF as there was not much for me to do in the Hogar as all the kids are at school until mid afternoon.
INABIF have a number of centres where they work with street kids. The first one I worked in was near the centre of Lima and in an area considered to be too dangerous for me to venture out of the centre. I spent my time teaching couple of boys English and playing games with them. But they often didn't turn up. I helped feed younger kids at lunch time, but decided to move on.
Gotta go now, being called away, more later.
Life in Lima is very different to Cusco. To say the least its more adrenalin creative. Some places I go to the taximen say is too dangerous for them.
I've been working with INABIF which is a government department here in Peru. I would put a link on here but its all in Spanish. So now I'm a civil servant here in Peru too. Doubly blessed.
Lidia from Hogar de Cristo introduced me to INABIF as there was not much for me to do in the Hogar as all the kids are at school until mid afternoon.
INABIF have a number of centres where they work with street kids. The first one I worked in was near the centre of Lima and in an area considered to be too dangerous for me to venture out of the centre. I spent my time teaching couple of boys English and playing games with them. But they often didn't turn up. I helped feed younger kids at lunch time, but decided to move on.
Gotta go now, being called away, more later.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Playing footie in Lima
I went to visit the boys in the orphanage on Saturday and ended up in goal yet again.
They were playing a game of footie and invited me to join them. So as not to embarrass them with my skills I decided to play in goal. I think I only let in six or seven, but to be honest stopped counting. The boys didn't seem to mind anyway. They are great bunch and very welcoming.
Playing footie in Lima with the Pacific roaring away in the background is what I call living. Unfortunately I forgot that the sun was also roaring away and I had not used any sunblock that morning, because usually I don't need it in Lima,so guess what? I got sunburnt! Nothing serious but a bit of a pain in the neck. Well more on my head to be honest.
No-one here abouts is bald, so my bald head is a source of interest to the boys, and it was one of them who pointed out to me the error of my ways. I had a cap in my bag so was able to protect myself from the worst of the high noon sun.
After the footie was over I sat down for a rest and found myself doing an impromptu English class and the ones who didn't do English were happy to do some drawing for me.
A very pleasant day was had byu all.
More soon. Need to go to bed, early start tomorrow, at least 9 am.
They were playing a game of footie and invited me to join them. So as not to embarrass them with my skills I decided to play in goal. I think I only let in six or seven, but to be honest stopped counting. The boys didn't seem to mind anyway. They are great bunch and very welcoming.
Playing footie in Lima with the Pacific roaring away in the background is what I call living. Unfortunately I forgot that the sun was also roaring away and I had not used any sunblock that morning, because usually I don't need it in Lima,so guess what? I got sunburnt! Nothing serious but a bit of a pain in the neck. Well more on my head to be honest.
No-one here abouts is bald, so my bald head is a source of interest to the boys, and it was one of them who pointed out to me the error of my ways. I had a cap in my bag so was able to protect myself from the worst of the high noon sun.
After the footie was over I sat down for a rest and found myself doing an impromptu English class and the ones who didn't do English were happy to do some drawing for me.
A very pleasant day was had byu all.
More soon. Need to go to bed, early start tomorrow, at least 9 am.
John Lennon
I was coming back to Miraflores the other day in a taxi when I saw this statue and thought to myself he looks kind of familiar. Turns out ot be John Lennon who apparently is very popular in these parts. They commemorate his death every year with a wee festival of some kind. Musical I guess.
It makes a nice change to recognise someone on a plinth in a foreign country. Its in a nice wee park by the Pacific, a very pleasant setting for a Beatle.
I couldn't stop to have a proper look but will go back to see it and take some photos for you all. Its about time Edinburgh had his statue some where, maybe in the parliament would be about right.
It makes a nice change to recognise someone on a plinth in a foreign country. Its in a nice wee park by the Pacific, a very pleasant setting for a Beatle.
I couldn't stop to have a proper look but will go back to see it and take some photos for you all. Its about time Edinburgh had his statue some where, maybe in the parliament would be about right.
Hogar de Cristo - Ciudad de Dios
Lima is normally covered by a blanket of clouds and smog. A bit like Glasgow used to be, when I was a boy. For the first time since I've been coming here we've had clear blue skies and sunshine for the past few days. Marvellous. Pacific looks even better, though not quite as bonnie as Broad Bay. But then not a lot is. eh boys? Maybe that should be one word, Broadbay? Imagine not remembering that. One word looks more familiar now that I think about it.
I've started work here in Lima and its a whole lot different to Cusco. Hogar de Cristo, now also called Ciudad de Dios (City of God)is in the San Miguel district and about 20 minutes in a taxi from my flat in Miraflores. It used to be run by the RC church until a couple of years back when they withdrew the funding and kind of abandoned the place.
Since then the staff have taken on running the place, and worked without pay for some time after funds were stopped. In poor country like Peru that is some sacrifice and some love. An organistaion called Tarpuy Songo is helping run it and is in the process of becoming an NGO. I'm a volunteer with them and work for Lidia, who runs it. She is really helpful to me and has looked sfter things for me.
I'm not sure where the funds come from now but the government does give material support with potatoes and stuff but never enough and no financial support. Its amazing the place survives; only through the dedication of its workers. To say that its thought provoking is an understatement of some proportion, but thats the best I can come up with just now.
Its a big place and there are three different communities all in the one organisation. There's the orphanage for boys, a home for elderly who have no family, and a home for younger adults with mental health problems who have been abandoned by their families or have no family and who need full time care and support. They also had to take some people from a home in Ica which was destroyed in the earthquake a couple of years back.
I've started work here in Lima and its a whole lot different to Cusco. Hogar de Cristo, now also called Ciudad de Dios (City of God)is in the San Miguel district and about 20 minutes in a taxi from my flat in Miraflores. It used to be run by the RC church until a couple of years back when they withdrew the funding and kind of abandoned the place.
Since then the staff have taken on running the place, and worked without pay for some time after funds were stopped. In poor country like Peru that is some sacrifice and some love. An organistaion called Tarpuy Songo is helping run it and is in the process of becoming an NGO. I'm a volunteer with them and work for Lidia, who runs it. She is really helpful to me and has looked sfter things for me.
I'm not sure where the funds come from now but the government does give material support with potatoes and stuff but never enough and no financial support. Its amazing the place survives; only through the dedication of its workers. To say that its thought provoking is an understatement of some proportion, but thats the best I can come up with just now.
Its a big place and there are three different communities all in the one organisation. There's the orphanage for boys, a home for elderly who have no family, and a home for younger adults with mental health problems who have been abandoned by their families or have no family and who need full time care and support. They also had to take some people from a home in Ica which was destroyed in the earthquake a couple of years back.
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