Hi Everyone!

Sunday - travel day. Lima is on Eastern time and we will land there around 11pm. I am flying to Houston first to meet the rest of the group. The flight from Houston to Lima is 6.5 hours long!

Monday - We will do some training for the group Monday morning to get them acclimated to the culture. Then the CEO of the Lima Y will meet with us to tell us about the Lima Y programs. We will then meet with the Vice-Minister of Multiculturalism of the country, followed by lunch at the Y cafeteria. Group participants will present on the Mestizo culture in Peru - decendants of Spanish immigrants. We will then go into different communities in Peru to see the Y programs in action. Then we eat at a local resturaunt serving Mestizo food.

Tuesday - We will get a presentation by group members on the Indigenous population in Peru - the Amerindians. I will present on leadership development, and then we will meet with the Chief representative of the marginalized groups in Peru. We will go to an indigenous NGO, then meet with the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Development. Followed by dinner at a Amerindian resturaunt.

Wednesday - We will start with a group presentation on the white culture in Peru. Then we will do a service learning activity with local families to build and paint a community shelter. At night we will dine in a Criollo/Mestizo resturaunt.

Thursday - We will start the day with a group presentation on the Afro-Peruvian peoples. Then we will meet with the only 2 Afro-Peruvian congresswomen in Peru, who also both used to be professional volleyball players. We will then meet with the Executive Director of an Afro-Peruvian NGO and then go to an Afro-Peruvian museum. Dinner at an Afro-Peruvian resturaunt. Then a tour of the city!

Friday - Start the day with a presentation on the Asian-Peruvian population. Then we visit the Japanese Peruvian Association, then we visit Chinatown. We eat Peruvian-Chinese food for lunch, then do more training and go shopping in the city. We finish this night with a cultural evening in the city - dancing, food, etc.

Saturday - Some people will go home, the rest of us will fly to Cuzco to see Machu Piccu and hike the Inca trail. We will arrive and see Cuzco.

Sunday - Wake up bright and early to get on a train to head into Machu Piccu. Hike all day. Take the train back at night and get back late.

Monday - Hang out in Cuzco for a while, fly back to Lima.

Tuesday - Fly from Lima to Houston, Houston to Buffalo. Meet Dana with my suitcase full of pretty clothes for Buffalo, after wearing Y polos and worn out jeans all week. =)