By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus
Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015
Courtney and Elizabeth will hold the record this term for taking the longest bus ride to their service location: 16 hours from Lima to Arequipa.
Courtney and Liz pose in the Plaza de Armas in their service town of Arequipa.
Arequipa is Peru’s second-largest city, with a population approaching one million. This is a land of snow-capped volcanoes, including El Misti, at 5,822 meters, or 19,101 feet, which nestles between two other volcanoes, Chachani and Pichu Pichu.
Arequipa is known as the “White City” for its colonial buildings dressed in white volcanic stone called sillar.
Courtney and Elizabeth, both of whom are education majors at the college, worked at a private Christian school in Arequipa, Francisco Rojas, assisting with classes in English. The school was close enough that Elizabeth could walk from her home, and Courtney joined her host brother, a student there, in making the commute.
Our visit happened to coincide with what family members described as rains of historic proportions. On the two days that we were available to visit the school, classes were canceled because of rain.
We enjoyed our visit with Elizabeth’s host parents, Julio and Nancy Chavez Talavera. Our conversation ranged from the Assemblies of God church, to which the family belongs, to the often underappreciated balance that lefthandedness brings to the world (a personal passion of Julio’s). Nancy served a light supper that began with grenada, or pomegranate, juice.
Elizabeth with her host parents, Nancy and Julio, and their dog, Aria.
The next day we had the good fortune to visit Courtney’s family on the very day that her mother, Dolly Gonzales Puma, was celebrating her birthday. We were there to help Dolly’s husband, Juan Carlos; their children, Johaquin, 6, and Valentina, almost 3, and a large gathering of family and friends sing “Happy Birthday” and “Feliz Cumpleaños.”
Courtney’s host mom prepares to blow out her candles as her host dad and brother watch.
During one weekend, Elizabeth and Courtney visited the Colca Canyon, which at a depth of 13,650 feet, is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Visitors can watch Andean condors climb up to the rim of the canyon, in ascending spirals, each morning.
Elizabeth and Courtney during their hike in the Colca Canyon, outside Arequipa.Elizabeth at the Colca Canyon, a drive of several hours from Arequipa.Elizabeth and Courtney at the Colca Canyon.Courtney at the Colca Canyon outside Arequipa.Courtney and Elizabeth at the Colca Canyon.Courtney at the Francisco Rojas School.Courtney at the Francisco Rojas School.Courtney at Francisco Rojas School.Elizabeth at the Francisco Rojas School.Elizabeth at the Francisco Rojas School.Elizabeth at the Francisco Rojas School.Elizabeth with her host parents, Nancy and Julio Talavera, and their dog, Aria.Elizabeth at the table in the dining room of her host home.Arequipa is surrounded by snow-capped volancoes.Selva Alegre Park, north of downtown, is open to the public on Sundays.The park includes a modest zoo.. . . boating . . .. . . concrete sliding boards that surely delight children (and might worry municipal lawyers).. . . and a treehouse.A butterfly on a sunny morning in the park.Courtney, Elizabeth and Willy in the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa.Courtney and Elizabeth in the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa.Karen, Courtney, Elizabeth and Duane in the main plaza of Arequipa.A little girl plays among the pigeons in Arequipa’s main plaza.Willy feeding pigeons in the main plaza in Arequipa.With a packet of seeds, friends come flocking.Some landings are smoother than others.Courtney and Elizabeth introduced us to their favorite salteña cafe and a favorite Arequipa soda.Salteñas are a savory pastry often filled with pork, chicken or beef and a sweet or spicy sauce.These veterans warned us to first sip the sauce, as if out of a straw.the rookies took their turn . . .with salteñas.They also introduced us to a restaurant, Hatunpa, that combines a love of potatoes with a global citizenship worldview.A creative take on stroganoff made with alpaca and Andean potatoes.Courtney and Elizabeth at Hatunpa.The restaurant is located near the plaza.A former colonial mansion serves as commerce home for a bank in downtown Arequipa.Courtney and Elizabeth at the Patio del Ekeko.Duane and Courtney help to celebrate the birthday of Courtney’s host mother.Courtney with her host mother, Dolly, at Dolly’s birthday party.Courtney with her host parents, Dolly and Juan Caros.Courtney’s host mother, Dolly Gonzales Puma, celebrated her birthday during our visit. Her husband, Juan Carlos, is standing behind her, and beside her is a son, Johaquin, 6. They also have a daughter Valentina, nearly 3.A local protest march ends in the main plaza.In the Plaza de Armas.The cathedral anchors the Plaza de Armas.Another church near the Plaza de Armas, Iglesia de la Compañía.Looking toward downtown Arequipa from the north.The outline of Misti is visible as we leave town. This is a view Elizabeth and Courtney see often. Rains in town ensured snow on the peaks of the nearby volcanoes.Leaving the city of Arequipa.
