Steps leading up to a shrine in Cajamarca City
View of Cajamarca City
Group picture after our countryside picnic
A little gossip never hurt anyone!
Our group in San MarcosMicah and I are back from our week of field-based training that took place over the last week in the department of Cajamarca. We had an amazing time meeting current volunteers and visiting their homes in and around Cajamarca City. First we traveled about an hour and a half to a community of about 7000 people where a current volunteer lives and works. We observed her working with students in the elementary school and then where set on our own to give a charla (a talk) to students about values and self esteem. It was an interesting experience primarily because students in the rural mountain areas of Peru tend to be very shy. This was very true in our class especially with the girls. It is also difficult to get students to be creative in many cases due to the current system of education in Peru. For the most part students are asked to memorize and then repeat information verbatim or it is considered incorrect. We are starting to find out that this method causes students to be very reluctant to put anything on their own words for fear that they will be wrong. We traveled to a smaller neighboring community and met with an established youth group of youth leaders. We also learned about a radio program that a volunteer did with the help of youth and a doctor from the local health post about important health related topics. In the following days we also taught English, participated in a class on employment readiness for students, and learned about the work of a volunteer in Cajamarca City who is working to eradicate child labor in the streets.
The assignment to teach English brought a lot of debate amongst the people in our group. I do not plan on teaching English in my community because I feel that it is not what youth in the community will need to be successful. In addition, it is virtually impossible to actually accomplish much retention of the language even over the course of two years. That being said, many volunteers teach English because first and foremost that is what the community often wants. It can also be a good way to draw participants in and to build relationships. I guess I will what to see what my community wants from me, but I’m hoping it isn’t to learn English!
We where are able to spend quite a bit of time in Cajamarca City. The city has a beautiful view of the mountains and a lot of cultural significance. Along with historic churches, there is El Cuarto del Rescate where Atahualpa (Head of the Incan Empire) was held by Pizarro before his death in 1533. There where also great restaurants and the excellent cheese and ice cream that Cajamarca is know for. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit the thermal springs at Baños del Inca. I guess we have a good reason to return if we are not placed in Cajamarca!
The assignment to teach English brought a lot of debate amongst the people in our group. I do not plan on teaching English in my community because I feel that it is not what youth in the community will need to be successful. In addition, it is virtually impossible to actually accomplish much retention of the language even over the course of two years. That being said, many volunteers teach English because first and foremost that is what the community often wants. It can also be a good way to draw participants in and to build relationships. I guess I will what to see what my community wants from me, but I’m hoping it isn’t to learn English!
We where are able to spend quite a bit of time in Cajamarca City. The city has a beautiful view of the mountains and a lot of cultural significance. Along with historic churches, there is El Cuarto del Rescate where Atahualpa (Head of the Incan Empire) was held by Pizarro before his death in 1533. There where also great restaurants and the excellent cheese and ice cream that Cajamarca is know for. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit the thermal springs at Baños del Inca. I guess we have a good reason to return if we are not placed in Cajamarca!
