More Adventures
Trip Start
May 01, 2006
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Trip End
May 31, 2006
Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Sunday, May 14, 2006
just checking in from barquisimeto to give you all a better update on whats going on here! i appologize for the lack of apostrophes ( i cant figure out the keyboard). I wanted to give a little bit more info on our time in caracas as i dont think my previous entry did it justice.
our stay at ninos de la luz was amazing as i said. itīs a group of houses with a community living concept. its located in the mountains surrounding caracas in one of the most dangerous barrios ( or slums) the families there are formed by 2 parents and their kids along with adopted kids off the streets of caracas. a few workers go out every friday night at midnight or so and talk to children in the street about their situation and the service and home avalable to them at ninos. if they agree there is a whole legal process and the kids come to live at this location integrated into a new family settign with food, water and a place to call home. they have tons of friends there and a great facility with a pool, basketball court, archery, etc, not ultra deluxe as it may sound, but a big step up from living on the streets. we ate, worked and played with the kids there and build some great friendships during our short stay. we learned tons about their stories, and even more about life in venezuela. we had great venezuelan dishes and were invited into their family.
from there we stayed in caracas for a night and headed for long bus ride here to barquisimeto. the bus was freezing with very windey roads but we made it here in one piece! ;) we were picked up and brought to our current location via the sketchiest taxi ive ever been in haha it was quite the expeience. we got settled in our rooms in the families home here in the fundcion dejame vivir, a place similar to ninos in the country, surrounded by rolling mountains ( venezuela is BEAUTIFUL!) we have been working here making an extension onto their cafeteria, playing with the kids, cleaning, cooking and trying to better the camp. its pretty rough condidtions here, alot of flies and many winged things, and not the kind of standards of living that come close to what we are used to at home. we had quite the epidemic of sickeness through the team members, luckily i havnt been sick but its been really rough for those who have, thus weve had to take a couple days off but playing with the kids has been great, there are some hilarious personalities that have kept us entertained. we visited in toen yesterday and had a very interesting political chat with some of the locals. today we visited an artisan market and are exploring in a town near barquisimete, not sure of the nme
tomorrow ngiht we leave for merida, were all very excited but its going to be sad to leave the people we have become close to. the busride is overngiht and quite lengthy. we cant wait to see what merida will hold!
more soon!
hope all is well with everyone!
love,
elise
ps no pics as i forgot the cord!! sorry, but more to see next time!
Comments
woo
ahh! elise. i am so jealous, you seem to be having an amazing time!! reading your entries has made me miss costa rica so bad :).. man i miss that place, it was so fun, and i know how it feels to leave the kids and such that have made your days bright, so sad...
thats good you havent been sick, when i was in monteverde in cr a lot of people in my group became sick as well. luckily i didnt catch anything, but it certainly wasnt fun for others either. oh boy, anyways. im happy that you're having such a stellar time. i hope you stay healthy :) and cant wait to see pics and such
have fun xo
elyse
Heyyy
Sounds like you're having a great time elise!! Take it all in, these are the kinds of things you look back in years to come and think 'wow, i can't believe i did that!' Yes, I'm sentimental, sue me. Hope you have many more adventures (i'm sure you will!)
xoxo
Madison