After an extreme senses overload in Lima’s economic city hub we were off to Villa Maria and a specific section called Nueva Esperanza which means New Hope, to be even more specific , we were in section 19 A J.
Nueva Esperanza is almost like a South African squatter camp. It is a huge informal settlement build on the hills. I have seen something similar in Natal when I visited my friend Kit. The difference is that here and there you would find typical South African “rondawels” and the hills would be green. In Lima as already previously stated, everything seems to be grey.
Getting to Nueva Esperanza was an adventure in itself. We were running late so we walk for about 3min to the bus. The bus trip was about 5min and then we took a 20min train, yet another bus for about 10min and then walked up to the library. Kim normally takes a motor car to the library but the person she drives with had a problem with his motor car. Apparently it is not safe to drive with any motor car as they might drive away with you. I am yet to try the Peruvian motor car... I will do a separate blog just on Peru transport; it is indeed something to experience.
We helped the kids decorate Christmas trees and get the place ready for their Christmas party the next day. A group of students that is part of World Visions community outreach course came with on the 22nd for the Christmas party. The outreach served as the practical of the theory they did. Somehow I just can’t get away from Community Interaction with students.
I met Vanessa on this trip who is quickly becoming one of my best Peruvian friends.
The Christmas party was very special. Kim brought a message and some of the kids read to the others. We also had a puppet show; chocolate and Christmas cake was given as well as personal presents. Kim comes to this community regularly where she reads to the kids so lots of personal relationship has been build with the children.
Time with the kids of Nueva Esperanza was indeed special. They are seen as poor kids but for me they had so much to give. They brought hope into my life. It’s the upside down Kingdom in action. You think you are going to give and then you end up receiving more.
Lima is Spanish!!! This is not to be underestimated. The microwave is in Spanish, Julia Robertson and Bart Simpson speaks Spanish, the music in the streets is Spanish and everyone speaks Spanish to each other. It does get very challenging to connect with people and to participate in any conversation. For those kids however, language was not a problem. They did their utmost best to include me in everything. They got an English- Spanish dictionary, signed language like crazy, drew pictures; whatever they could do to include me in their conversations, they did!!
Their thoughtfulness spoke a million words of hope to me for the rest of the month that lies ahead. We laughed so much at all my Spanish blapses. I meant to ask the one kid how old he was: “¿Cuántos años tienes” and instead I said: “ Cuantos asno tienes” there is a slight difference in the pronunciation so I ended up asking him, how many bums, like in ass, does he have . They cracked themselves.
One boy said: ‘Teacher English mal”, so I pointed to my head turning my hand and said: “Kookoes”. They laughed so much and kept on saying “Kookoes” to each other. Mal in Spanish however means bad. There were so many more laughter moments.
I got to learn Spanish and felt at home. I was no more an outsider; I was just a visitor, maybe even a friend. Here is a short video that I posted on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-65KB8UZcY&feature=youtu.be
Nueva Esperanza is almost like a South African squatter camp. It is a huge informal settlement build on the hills. I have seen something similar in Natal when I visited my friend Kit. The difference is that here and there you would find typical South African “rondawels” and the hills would be green. In Lima as already previously stated, everything seems to be grey.
Getting to Nueva Esperanza was an adventure in itself. We were running late so we walk for about 3min to the bus. The bus trip was about 5min and then we took a 20min train, yet another bus for about 10min and then walked up to the library. Kim normally takes a motor car to the library but the person she drives with had a problem with his motor car. Apparently it is not safe to drive with any motor car as they might drive away with you. I am yet to try the Peruvian motor car... I will do a separate blog just on Peru transport; it is indeed something to experience.
We helped the kids decorate Christmas trees and get the place ready for their Christmas party the next day. A group of students that is part of World Visions community outreach course came with on the 22nd for the Christmas party. The outreach served as the practical of the theory they did. Somehow I just can’t get away from Community Interaction with students.
I met Vanessa on this trip who is quickly becoming one of my best Peruvian friends.
The Christmas party was very special. Kim brought a message and some of the kids read to the others. We also had a puppet show; chocolate and Christmas cake was given as well as personal presents. Kim comes to this community regularly where she reads to the kids so lots of personal relationship has been build with the children.
Time with the kids of Nueva Esperanza was indeed special. They are seen as poor kids but for me they had so much to give. They brought hope into my life. It’s the upside down Kingdom in action. You think you are going to give and then you end up receiving more.
Lima is Spanish!!! This is not to be underestimated. The microwave is in Spanish, Julia Robertson and Bart Simpson speaks Spanish, the music in the streets is Spanish and everyone speaks Spanish to each other. It does get very challenging to connect with people and to participate in any conversation. For those kids however, language was not a problem. They did their utmost best to include me in everything. They got an English- Spanish dictionary, signed language like crazy, drew pictures; whatever they could do to include me in their conversations, they did!!
Their thoughtfulness spoke a million words of hope to me for the rest of the month that lies ahead. We laughed so much at all my Spanish blapses. I meant to ask the one kid how old he was: “¿Cuántos años tienes” and instead I said: “ Cuantos asno tienes” there is a slight difference in the pronunciation so I ended up asking him, how many bums, like in ass, does he have . They cracked themselves.
One boy said: ‘Teacher English mal”, so I pointed to my head turning my hand and said: “Kookoes”. They laughed so much and kept on saying “Kookoes” to each other. Mal in Spanish however means bad. There were so many more laughter moments.
I got to learn Spanish and felt at home. I was no more an outsider; I was just a visitor, maybe even a friend. Here is a short video that I posted on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-65KB8UZcY&feature=youtu.be