A Hidden Treasure

This morning I worked with the Grandes starting at 6 (and after going out to eat last night and not getting back til 1 waking up was a little hard) and so I helped all of them get up, get dressed, eat and then I left for breakfast but was told to make sure to be back by 8:30 becuase I had to take some of the kids somewhere. After breakfast I learned that the 3 I had to take were Sabina, who is 21 and has some mental problems, Margary, who is I think 16 and also has some mental problems, and Sonia who is 16. We hoped on a bus which had about 30 people too many and rode into town. We the walked a couple of blocks and then turned to climb what was the steepest climb I think possible without some rope and a pick axe. After conquering Everest I saw where we were heading, it was a shop with clothing and some little knicknacks...Seriously, did we really go this far out of the way to go shopping...but it doesn´t end there, we then were welcomed and walked into the store, went into a dark back room and then a lady was there to welcome us and then she just turned to the girls and said you know what to do...ok this is getting a little sketchy...we then went up a spiral staircase to this big room


I had heard about this from one of the other volunteers but had forgotten all about it. On Saturdays these three go to classes on sewing, stiching, crocheting, whatever you call it. There is a family that owns this shop and teaches the craft to younger generations in order to keep the arts and culture alive. Alex, who is the oldest son, told me all about what they do and showed me around the shop and also to a gallery that had various tapestries as well as carvings, masks, paintings, etc. It was very cool to see the rich culture in this little shop and Alex and I had some pretty long discussions just about the culture and history of Peru and how different it is from that of the US. He also brought me up to the roof which is actually another story being built but in Peru building is a very very long process. He also told me how his family owned all the surrounding land and so the sold most of it and the rest of it is used for the family.

Peace,

Brandon

Here´s Alex working on a tapestry




This was the veiw from the roof/4th floor in the making