By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015 Willy poses above his home town of Vito. At the start of every semester this year, Wilfredo “Willy” Villavicencio, who coordinates the service portion of SST, tells the story of leaving his home in a small,…
Approaching the ancient city of Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail. Philip shares a journal entry based on his readings and visit to Machu Picchu. The Spanish conquistadors never found the royal retreat and city at Machu Picchu, but this story imagines just such an encounter.
Hayley climbing Huayna Picchu. Hayley shares a journal entry: Looking back, it seem surreal. But somehow I know that, yes, the mountains were that tall, the view was that beautiful, the clouds did move over the peaks, the people clambering by me were seemingly every ethnicity but…
Class convenes on a high terrace at Machu Picchu, 7 a.m. By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015 On the evening before we visited Machu Picchu, we talked about how we wanted to make the most of the chance to see this mountaintop…
By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015 Alberto at Ollantaytambo. More than 500 years ago, Ollantaytambo served as an important rest stop and administrative and religious center for the Incas. For our group, it proved to be a perfect place to stop…
By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015 Jessica and Abbie feeding the llamas. Early on Monday morning, students said good-bye to their host families near Cusco and we made our way into the Sacred Valley by bus, accompanied by a new guide, Rubén.
Michael, left, and David with their host family in Lucre. Michael shares a journal entry: I knew. I knew from the time I began watching TV, the first time I watched the weather, that I was going to be a meteorologist. My fascination with weather began with…
Zach, right, and James with their host mother in Lucre, Margarita. Zach shares a journal entry: My 36 hours in Lucre is a time I will never forget. During our first night there, I was a little nervous. When James and I asked our host mom questions,…
By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015 Students happily dig in to a meal of freshly caught trout in Lucre. For our students in Lucre and Huacarpay, Sunday morning began the traditional way, at daybreak. There were hikes up the mountain, walks to…
Abbie, center, and Kourtney with their host father, Olmer, in Lucre. Abbie shares a journal entry: Cock-a-doodle-doo! No, that was not a tacky alarm sounding but an authentic rooster waking me up. I checked my watch and realized it was 3 in the morning. A few short…
