Hola chicos! Katie here, blogging in to share the exciting adventures our enthusiastic interns have had thus far. While this week has been primarily focused on researching and discussing the various aspects of volunteering and the best ways to dedicate our time and energy to make the biggest impact here in Peru, we’ve had some time for fun in the sun as well! On Sunday we went on a *wild* taxi ride up to Amaru, a causal 12,000 ft above sea level, to meet a traditional Peruvian farming family and experience their way of life for a few hours. After getting dressed in traditional Peruvian attire, we trekked up to a potato field to learn how to harvest potatoes. After hiking for about 15 minutes, we all suddenly found ourselves out of breath and VERY hot in the heavy Peruvian clothing, quickly realizing we had underestimated the difficulty of farming at such high altitude. After enjoying an incredible meal consisting of food primarily grown in the family’s farm, we were shown the intricate and time-consuming process of turning alpaca wool into yarn and then into clothing all by hand. It was truly an enlightening experience that really enabled us to appreciate the lifestyle of a traditional Peruvian family. The day ended with a home-cooked meal by our very own Paul and Lauren and a Spanish lesson taught by the Spaniard herself, Mariana.

The group has also been “bringing it” in terms of training. Encouraged by the athletically-challenged bikers/ DJ’s of the group, the runners have been dominating the long-run game, getting better and better with each run. To add some variation, the group has been experimenting with yoga, weights, abb ripper ex, and spinning – ensuring that working out never gets boring. Though I think we would all agree, Pisaq has so much going on, it’s impossible to get bored in this town.

Just last night, after enjoying a delicious vegan curry dish made by master-cheffs Calvin and Ali, a group of interns ventured out for a now-routine evening stroll to the local bakery. They soon found themselves in the middle of the town’s celebration of Pisaq day, watching a ‘rocking’ concert by Peruvian standards. It did not take long for Kirsty to start breaking out the moves. Her dancing skills were so intense, they caught the eye of a background dancer on stage, who proceeded to jump off the stage and dance with Kirsty in the middle of the town’s square. It was truly a sight to see (check out the Strive instagram page to see some footage!).

All and all this week has been a whirl of hard work, intense training sessions, thought-provoking discussions, uniquely-Peruvian experiences, spontaneous adventures and unforgettable moments. Check back soon for your exclusive look into the life of a STRIVE-Peru intern.