andy digs holes and puts concrete and steel in...

hey kids,

time is flying over here. just to fill you in on the last couple of weeks. i didnt end up finding my plane ticket and had to buy a one way to LA. it cost me $2400. yeah, not really the ideal way to start a trip... flights all went well, didnt lose any luggage despíte 4 connecting flights to get to peru. cruised around lima for a day then met up with the rest of the team and caught an overnight bus 10 hours out to Satipo. the driver was crazy, overtaking around blind corners and stuff like that. pulled into satipo to help in the construction of a rehab centre for disabled kids. The building was supposed to have started2 months ago, but we found out that the entire design for the place had changed and the only progress they had made was 4 corner pegs in the ground, was pretty frustrating having worked so hard back home, so get over here and have nothing sorted out. But once we got here things started falling into place really well, weve been here 3 weeks, and in that time we have got all the massive footings in, fixed all the steel columns, and started bricking for all 4 buildings. they reckon we have done about 4 months work at local pace in 3 weeks. everything here is labour intensive, labour is cheap, machines are expensive, so its all man power. nothing is prefab, all made the hard, slow way...but its been really cool working with the local blokes and seeing the way they build things. The rest of the group left satipo today to go on a one week tour. stevo, sam and I are staying here to work for a bit longer. Had an awesome time, working, meeting the locals and touring around a bit. Time has gone so fast, seems like about 4 days since we got here. next sunday i fly to brazil and im sure there will be many adventures to be had. hope all is well and ill keep you posted. andy

ps. we have a awesome blog covering the details of our trip, heaps of photos and proper details, not like mine...check it out www.project-peru.blogspot.com

satipo photos

some of the local kids trying out their english, it was about as good as my spanish- my spanish is rubbish...but its fun giving it a crack.

renee and i sampling some local guinea pig, tasty!

i look full on scary .

we had a presentation service from the mayor, was a bigger function than expected. all the parents of the disabled kids were there. had to get up the front and do a speech to thank everyone. my shirt was fully dusty and dirty. didnt really realise till i got there.

jorge and jesus some of the good blokes running the constuction site.

an orphanage room, this is the entire possesions of 40 girls.

kid eating a chicken foot.