marshmallows for breakfast...

It seems that noone in Peru(or maybe all of south america) eats cereal for breakfast. Cereal is pretty much all i have ever eaten for breakfast and im not about the stop now. After scouring all of Satipo we came across a selection of 4 types of cereal. The best of these are little vanilla cornflakes with tiny marshmallows, so thats what ive been eating for the last one and a half weeks(and with 40grams of sugar per 100, i can almost feel my teeth decaying as i munch down)...fun times...oh yeah, and the only milk they have is long life milk...warm. Breakfast, best meal of the day!

The transport strike ended saturday 2 weeks ago, and we were able to get a bus out to satipo that night, prime seats, numbers 1 and 2. Also prime seats for viewing a head on crash, which occur rarely, but more often than you would like. We got out here safely (obviously) and checked into the majestic hotel , the one we stayed in last time. Its been really cool catching up with people who we havnt seen for a year or two. Things change really slowly out here, so most people were still in the same jobs, hanging out in the same spots, playing soccer on the same pitch on the same night of the week at the same time...

We came out here to almost 2 years ago to construct a school for disabled kids. We made great progress whilst we were here, and the project was supposed to be finished a few months after we left. But it wasnt. That is still the case, there has been progress(they built a sweet fence the whole way around the complex) but the buildings still arnt finished. After talking with the council we have been assured that at least two of the buildings will be finished by June. Over here a lot of things are supposed to be finished in a few months, but end taking 6 or 7 years... I am hopeful that this will not be the case with out project, as there is growing pressure on the mayor (theres an election in october) and some support groups really pushing for the centre to be completed. We will see. About an hour ago Fernando and I gave a live TV interview for about 20mins, Fernando has already made a documentary about the project which is currently being edited and given about 7 radio interviews. All this publicity is really raising awareness about the disabled kids in Satipo and we have had many people come knock on our hotel door and tell us about families with disabled kids they want us to come and visit, which is the main reason we are here.

Our main focus at the moment is helping the families of the kids directly. we have been racing around in mototaxis visiting the families and have had some really cool times. The families have been really welcoming and keen to let us into their lives. So far we have visited 15 different families and provided them with hygiene packs (laundry equipment, soaps, shampoo, kitchen items, bedding, mattresses, clothing etc) and also school supplies for the kids (backpacks, books, colouring in stuff, pencils, reading books etc). We have also tried to source some specialist equipment that would make the lives of the child/family a lot easier. We have ordered some custom showering chairs from a local carpintero, crutches, we have two wheelchairs and a metal walking frame coming from Lima, some custom leg braces made for a little girl etc. Its really cool to be able to help the families with these items that they would otherwise have no chance of obtaining, as they get no help from the government, no welfare etc. The kids are pretty stoked to get some new stuff as well, and excitied to go back to school to use their new school books. One little boy with downs syndrome ran over and climbed up me (like you would a coconut tree) to give me a hug. It is a weird experience been climbed up...

Having a really sweet time out here, really glad im able to help in some small way. Im out of here on Sunday going to be a bit sad saying goodbye to eveyone again, but i will be back and i will speak spanish perfect... hope life is great where ever you are, remember to be thankful for what you have. take it easy kids :) andy