In Peru... at last!

After an eventful plane trip to Peru, we have now all reached the Hogar San Pedro. For some of us the trip was more eventful than for others...

For Constantin, Claire and Amine, everything went as planned: their planes were on time and they were welcomed at the aiport by the very sympathetic Saul... and a very enthusiastic volunteer named Christine. They were absolutely amazed by the Hogar and the friendliness of the staff and patients...

However, the 7 other members of the group had the "not so unfortunate" opportunate opportunity to spend a day in... Mexico city! After what seemed like forever, their 2nd flight departed from Toronto with an 8-hour delay... which meant that they missed their connection.

After a few hours of uncertainty, they were given a free night in a 5 star hotel, free meals and a chance to enjoy and visit Mexico City with a private guide (for Glynn, Nicholas, Ana and Benedicte). The scenery was marvealous: Mexico city and it´s monuments and pyramids made up for the 1 day delay in the arrival in Peru.

At last, when their plane landed in Peru and the 7 other members of the group met their 3 friends at the airport, the excitement was hard to quantify: the MSAHI group was reunited and everyone was very excited to see the Hogar in the daylight. When they went to bed at last (at somewhere around 3 am on July 3rd) they were already feeling at home in the cosy volunteer´s in the small town of Ricardo Palma.

What awaited the MSAHI group in the morning was aboslutely amazing! The first official day at the Hogar consisted of a tour of the place, many introductions and explanations about their work schedules and the rules to follow. The weekend will probably be very mellow with a potential visit to Lima and nearby villages. Monday morning, the official work schedule will start, with shifts at the Farmacy, Pediatrics wing, Tubercolisis wing, in the kitchen, in the laundry room, in the garden and with the regular patients.

At this moment, we are all coming back from a little walk in the village of Ricardo Palma. After one day at the Hogar, it is unanimous in the group that the place is very comfortable and welcoming, that the weather is amazing (about 22 degrees and sunny in the afternoon), that the landscape is breathtaking (we are surrounded by mountains) and that this next month will probably fly by...