Day 1 at Huilloc

This morning the bus arrived with the Utah State group (a group of about 30 undergraduate business students and their faculty leaders) and we packed on our four suitcases and headed to Ollantaytambo and out a gravel road not frequented by tour buses. We saw a few hiking groups but the cows and native dressed women driving the small herds outnumbered the tourist hikers. After climbing to 12,000 feet we entered the little community of Huilloc.
Traditionally dressed children ran along side of our bus eager to greet us. They didn't dress up for us - this is how they dress every day. The children swarmed the first man off the bus because be offered some children his tic tacs. The boys quickly assisted with transporting our four bags filled with school and medical supplies to the designated room.We divided into groups to do four projects. Dad and I were in the agricultural group which consisted of clearing rocks from a field to prepare for planting an orchard. All was fine until it became a battle against nature as to whether or not we would be able to remove an enormous rock buried in the dirt. An hour later man prevailed and we rolled it to the side. The field was just adjacent to the trout farm tanks which were sadly still drained. Hopefully the next time around they get stocked they will learn to keep them viable.

One of the Utah State groups did testing of the children, taking their weight, height and pricking their fingers for anemia testing.
Three volunteer doctors came with our group and went through our supplies. Many of the supplies will be stored for a few months until a new medical building is completed later this summer. We reassured the doctor that we wanted the items to be used whether in Huilloc or at clinic in need in Cusco. The doctor from Cusco was very grateful and eager to plan how he could return to help when the village's new clinic is done and the rest is needed in Cuzco since the villagers didn't know what to do with many items. Once Kim explained that the vitamins were for the children and villagers to take each day, the principal started distributing the vitamins.
It turns out there are several teachers and Kim enjoyed offering the school supplies to the first grade teacher. She said via a translator that she was glad to take as much as we had. Kim was about to help her cut the laminated alphabet cards on the classroom wall when a doctor came to ask her to help sort out items in the supply room. It turned out that of the 800 lbs of items that we'd sent last month with another tour group plus other donations brought by other groups there were some that they didn't know what to do with. For example math flash cards and bubbles. It was fun to show the doctors what to do with flash cards and the technical expertise required to blow bubbles.
It was decided by the Utah State group after lunch break to leave early (1pm) which was very disappointing but we will go back tomorrow and hopefully get a little more time with the people. There were already a dozen kids walking around with their chalkboard backpacks donated by an Eagle Scout in our ward. It was nice to see them being used.

Bad news: Itinarary change. A Puno bus strike is currently under way. This means we miss our leg to Lake Titicaca. Disappointing. After communication with Pan American, the three of us deliberated our options. We will stay in Yucay (Sacred Valley) another night, then another day in Cusco.
Kim's bag a no show again but we're hopeful that with a second faxed letter and passports we'll prevail in getting the bag. She is still such a good sport. She broke down and bought a t-shirt this evening. Adiós