Doug, Maria and Katie arrived in Vito Wednesday afternoon after a lengthy 3-hour taxi ride over, what seemed, the top of the world and down into a deep valley with a ledge holding the small village of Vito.
Goshen has a special connection with this town; Willy, our service coordinator, was born and raised in this village with deep roots in the Andean culture inherited from the Incas and, before them, centuries of other indigenous civilizations. The women, and even the young girls, of this village still wear traditional hats. The styles of hats in the Andes vary from village to village, but within each village the women wear similar hats that identify the town they hail from. Isaac also had a connection to Vito; this is where his brother Philip and cousin Hayley did their SST service assignments two years ago.
The small adobe houses of Isaac and Rowan’s host families don’t have extra rooms or beds, so the guys share a room elsewhere in town, but are in their host families’ homes for meals and conversations. Both guys have work assignments at the village health post (folding gauze, sorting patient files, and attending home visits) and elementary school, although the first day of the new school year would not be until Monday, March 13. However, to take advantage of two native English speakers in town, the school had started “summer school” optional English classes for interested students.
We also visited the health post, where we crashed a meeting for the town’s senior citizens. They were delighted to welcome us with some Andean songs and dancing. This put us on the spot, as it meant we also needed to sing for them, but we felt quite naked without the other 12 voices of our group to help cover up our serious vocal inadequacies. Somehow, we managed.
The village of Vito is perched on this small mountain ledge.Rowen and Isaac met us in the main square.On a side street a woman uses ancient methods for weaving a poncho.What started as a photo of those connected to Goshen became a photo of everyone who happened to be in the main plaza.Rowan’s mother, Nemesia, prepares our lunch of rice, potatoes, and alpaca jerky.Katie and Maria are visibly elated when Doug says he’ll share his alpaca jerky with them.Every rural Andean home has “cuy,” guinea pigs raised for consumption.On our way to Rowan and Isaac’s room.Because their host families don’t have spare beds or rooms, Isaac and Rowan sleep in this adobe building.Isaac doesn’t tire of admiring the scenery from their room’s back porch.Rowan points in the direction of a neighboring village at the end of the valley.The health post where they work.Willy scratches his head about what to do next, realizing we arrived in the middle of a meeting for senior citizens.The nurse explained that the gathering was not to treat ailments, but to simply provide social interaction for the elderly residents.This kind woman repaired the flower deficit in Maria’s hat.They sang songs for us and wanted us to dance with them.Rowan commented that much of what the health post does is preventative care and has a great deal in common with social work (his major).Dancing with the Stars, Vito edition.Our eclectic musical contributions were “Johnny Appleseed,” “My Life Flows On,” and “Go, Goshen Go” (of soccer stadium fame).Yet another bold fashion statement from the “Versace of Vito.”The classroom where they have been teaching English.Supper at Isaac’s home, like other homes in Vito, are cooked around an open fire.The guys appreciate the conversation not just around the dinner table, but by the fire while supper is prepared.Before the main course we were served cheese and corn.Rowan’s dad, Calixto, demonstrates how the rope is snapped to get cattle moving.Rowan with parents Calixto, Nemesia, and 6-year-old Abigail. In the back is their oldest daughter and her child. Too shy for the picture was …… Jimenia (13), who was the first student, however, to show up for English classes.The teachers at work.Their very attentive class.Isaac helps Jimenia with a problem set.Maria discusses teaching techniques with Katie, who would start teaching in 4 days.Rowan’s father also comes to the English classes.Unfortunately, when the time came for a picture of Isaac with family, only mom, Belinda, was at home.From the day before: Isaac’s father, Nestor, and …… in the purple sweater is Isaac’s sister, Ledy (11).
