LAX

Hello St. Mary's Academy Parents and Friends!

I've just been in touch with the group and they have landed safely in Los Angeles. They are eating lunch and expecting an on time departure in Denver this afternoon. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at (303)679-3412.

For your reference, they are on United Airlines Flight 1742, due to arrive in Denver at 4:12pm.

*Update* The flight is estimating a 10 minute delay. The updated arrival time in Denver is 4:20pm. We will let you know if anything else changes.

Best,

Christina Martin 

Monday Morning - Last Full Day

Getting ready for our last day

Inca's Garden plays Full Moon

Our supporters

More supporters

Hello

After the game

Preparing the pachamanca

Last Post - Until We See You Again

We look forward to seeing you at the airport tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27 around 4:15 p.m. Our flight number from LAX is UA1742.

After an afternoon celebration, students shared emotional farewells with their families last night, and together as an SMA group, we reflected in a candle circle with prayer chimes. Soon we will depart Ollantaytambo. Thank you for spending time with us on the blog.

Singing and dreaming in the middle of everyone

One Saturday Blog and Monday Blogs

Looking up

From up, looking across

And looking down

Blog – Saturday

Hello Denverites!

Annie Hess here (again! Aren’t you all glad to hear from me so much?) Yesterday, we went on a very long hike that took all morning, and we ended up not finishing the hike because a lot of people had bad coughs and were having trouble breathing. The view was still amazing though. From the point where we stopped, we could see all of Ollantaytambo and one of the Apus (Veronica) or sacred mountains. Later at the service site, we picked corn. It’s very difficult work, and a lot of the corn had mysterious mold on it or bugs. I opened one corn and a grasshopper jumped out at my face. It was really startling so I screamed and everybody laughed at me. Then we were throwing the corn toward the sack to collect it in one place and Mrs. Ashley intercepted a cob with her head. We stopped throwing corn after that. J It was very interesting to see how the corn is picked and to be a part of the agricultural process. It really made me appreciate where our food comes from. Yesterday was quite the day.

See you soon!

Blog – Tuesday

From Alex Reddington

Today is our last day here in Ollantaytambo and the trip has been amazing.  I have learned so much here.

From Sarah Parker

I can't believe it's already the last full day in Ollantaytambo. This trip went by so fast. I feel like we just got here four days ago. I have had so much fun and learned so much. I have loved every second of it. I don't want to leave my host family, but I'll be glad to see everyone because I miss you all so much. I am so glad that I decided to come back here because I got to have the same experience and learn new things all over again.

From Lizzy Criss

I am super-sad we are leaving. This trip has been a trip of a lifetime and I am sad that I have to leave it behind. I love Ollantaytambo. The people here are so nice and caring. I’m ready to leave but not - it's like a cruise because it's fun but you can’t stay forever. I am definitely hoping to come back next year! In two days, we will be in Colorado. Every day has been better and better. I miss all my friends and family cant wait to see you guys!

FROM MADDIE CASTLE

Hi everybody!!!!!!!! TODAY IS THE DAY I EAT GUNEA PIG. YUM.

I have had an amazing time in Peru.  I miss my friends and family soooooooooooooooooo much & I can't wait to see them.

This place IS AMAZING. The people and the culture are inspiring.

LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. I can't wait to see you.

P.S. Machu Pichu was AMAZING!!!!!!!

From Delaney Huffman:

Hello again everybody! I have so much to share with you all back home! Machu Pichu was amazing, and I loved going back again. I miss everybody back in Colorado, and I can't wait to see you guys. This trip inspires me, and I hope everyone has the opportunity to visit a place in which they not only help others, but they can help themselves. I strongly suggest anyone who may be reading this to consider the Peru trip. It is an amazing and life changing experience.

Love and miss you!

Delaney :)

FROM RAEGAN:

Yesterday, we took a train and a bus up to Machu Picchu!  There was an amazing view of the whole city and how they all left because of an epidemic (theory).  It was an amazing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life!  The city was very magical and energetic even though nobody lived there anymore!  The eighth graders did their presentations up on the mountain.  Today we get to go to the school and look at all of the finished work that we did, and this afternoon we get to play the other hostel in soccer!

P.S:

See you soon mom and dad!  I am so excited to come home!  This is a really cool place and I hope that we can all come back together! 

Raegan

FROM CAITLIN

Hello everyone! This is my first time writing on the blog!

I had so much fun during this trip and I really wish I could come back next year. People here are so kind and they love us to be here. Yesterday we went to Machu Picchu, and it was AMAZING. The view was beautiful. This trip inspired me so much. After this trip, I really hope that my view of the world will change. I love Ollantaytambo. I miss you so much everyone!!!!!

P.S.

This quote is my favorite quote.

"Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth." -- Pema Choron

  

From Liam:

Hey!! Yesterday was Machu Picchu. we had so much fun looking at the ruins. Too bad we couldn't spend another day looking at the views. Today is our last day and we are just about to leave to go play soccer. Bye!

FROM MICHA

Hey everyone!

Today is our last day! I am so upset we have to leave our family today. Right now we are going to play a soccer game with all of our families. Then we are going to work at the school one last time. I'm excited to go home and see everyone! Machu Picchu was amazing! My camera broke so I couldn't take any pictures! I’m not looking forward to the long plain ride... This has been such a cool experience!

Dear Fam,

Can't wait to see everyone! Miss you all,

xoxo Micha Handler

Sunday - Machu Picchu

Filming 8th-grade presentations at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu with one of three sacred mountains in the background

A presentation

All of us!

Another presentation

A rest at Machu Picchu

Update from Martha

Thank you for your comments and well wishes. Machu Picchu was stunningly beautiful. The storms cleared before we arrived, and the clouds curled around the peaks above us imparting mystery and a sense of eternity. Later today, I'll upload some photos from the other chaperones. I used my camera to record the eighth-grade presentations at Machu Picchu. Today, we are planning to record the 7th-grade.

We're all feeling well with the exception of a cold virus that is circulating among a few of us. Please know that you will be able to access and download thousands of photos from the trip on a smug mug account in the next week or so.

Today is our last full day! We will share a pachamanca with all of the families to celebrate our stay. Then tonight, we have a candle circle to bring some closure to the trip. Tomorrow we travel to Cusco. On the way to Cusco, we will visit some sites to stretch our legs a bit before the long relay-of-flights home. Please remember that we will meet at the airport and not at SMA.

With love!
Martha

Sunday - Early Departure

We're up at 5 a.m. for our trip to Machu Picchu! More later. :)

Thursday/Friday - Posts from Full Moon

Thursday

FROM RAEGAN:

Hi guys!  Peru has been so amazing!  Today, we went to the school and sat in on some classes, and it was really fun to practice our Spanish with the kids at the school.  We have all been writing in our journals and taking some really great pictures of the landscape and cool places like the weaving co-operation!  There, we all got to weave our own bracelets!  The teachers have been really kind and generous towards us between taking pictures and making sure we stay healthy!  Tomorrow I think we will be playing soccer with the locals.  I am so excited!  I hope we have been putting up pictures on the blog so you can see our amazing adventures!

P.S. Mom & Dad,

I got a little bit sick tonight but Kennedy and the other teachers helped me feel better, and now I am great! Sorry Lincoln hasn't blogged, but just so you know, we are both healthy and feeling great!  I hope you are having fun on your trip!  See you soon!

Raegan

Friday

FROM AUDREY HUMMEL:

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to an elementary school and working on a fence and playing with the kids. In the afternoon we are hiking to the other ruins in the community. The ruins were once used for grain making. We will also visit our host families at lunch and dinner. The families are so incredibly nice and so welcoming! The kids are so funny and even though we don't speak the same language we have so much fun together!

The days are going by too quickly!

Mom, Dad, Andrew, & Teddy

I misI you all so much! but this trip is so amazing! Thank you for sending me here. it has been like nothing else I have ever done. The people here are probably the nicest families on earth, and all the kids are so cute!

Andrew and Ted Man- They don't sell hammocks here but i found you both other cool things! I miss you! I hope you are having fun with everyone in Sea Island.

Love you guys xoxo

See you all soon,

Audrey

FROM MICHA:

Hello Denver!

I'm having such a good time here! The culture is so different then anything in Colorado, but the people are like family. Every one in this small little village cares for you as if you are their own family. My Spanish is improving so that’s good!! I’m finally getting used to the town and the people! There is a little American bakery that my friends and I go to every day to get amazing cookies! The mountains here are breathtaking. My favorite day so far has been the rafting, even though it was the scariest. Our boat was the only boat that flipped, and it was super scary... but everyone was ok! Yesterday we went to the school, and I was in a science and English class. It is so interesting that you could get the same education living in such different surroundings!

Dear Mom&Dad, Eli&Davis,

I miss you guys so much! I haven't gotten homesick at all!! They have such cool stuff at the market. I can't wait to show you what I got you guys! Mom&Dad- thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I'm learning so much about Peru, but even more about myself! Eli, I miss you little boy! I bet it's weird not having someone yell at you at the dinner table... haha. And Davis- You would love it here- I wish you were with me!

Love you all xxoo

Micha Handler

FROM LINCOLN:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Peru has been an amazing experience unlike anything we could have done back at home. Mom and Dad, I miss you and will be excited to see you guys again when I get home. I have taken pictures and can't wait to show you. Peru is a great experience and it's too bad I can't go again.

Lincoln

Thursday/Friday - Posts from Full Moon

Thursday

FROM RAEGAN:

Hi guys!  Peru has been so amazing!  Today, we went to the school and sat in on some classes, and it was really fun to practice our Spanish with the kids at the school.  We have all been writing in our journals and taking some really great pictures of the landscape and cool places like the weaving co-operation!  There, we all got to weave our own bracelets!  The teachers have been really kind and generous towards us between taking pictures and making sure we stay healthy!  Tomorrow I think we will be playing soccer with the locals.  I am so excited!  I hope we have been putting up pictures on the blog so you can see our amazing adventures!

P.S. Mom & Dad,

I got a little bit sick tonight but Kennedy and the other teachers helped me feel better, and now I am great! Sorry Lincoln hasn't blogged, but just so you know, we are both healthy and feeling great!  I hope you are having fun on your trip!  See you soon!

Raegan

Friday

FROM AUDREY HUMMEL:

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to an elementary school and working on a fence and playing with the kids. In the afternoon we are hiking to the other ruins in the community. The ruins were once used for grain making. We will also visit our host families at lunch and dinner. The families are so incredibly nice and so welcoming! The kids are so funny and even though we don't speak the same language we have so much fun together!

The days are going by too quickly!

Mom, Dad, Andrew, & Teddy

I misI you all so much! but this trip is so amazing! Thank you for sending me here. it has been like nothing else I have ever done. The people here are probably the nicest families on earth, and all the kids are so cute!

Andrew and Ted Man- They don't sell hammocks here but i found you both other cool things! I miss you! I hope you are having fun with everyone in Sea Island.

Love you guys xoxo

See you all soon,

Audrey

FROM MICHA:

Hello Denver!

I'm having such a good time here! The culture is so different then anything in Colorado, but the people are like family. Every one in this small little village cares for you as if you are their own family. My Spanish is improving so that’s good!! I’m finally getting used to the town and the people! There is a little American bakery that my friends and I go to every day to get amazing cookies! The mountains here are breathtaking. My favorite day so far has been the rafting, even though it was the scariest. Our boat was the only boat that flipped, and it was super scary... but everyone was ok! Yesterday we went to the school, and I was in a science and English class. It is so interesting that you could get the same education living in such different surroundings!

Dear Mom&Dad, Eli&Davis,

I miss you guys so much! I haven't gotten homesick at all!! They have such cool stuff at the market. I can't wait to show you what I got you guys! Mom&Dad- thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I'm learning so much about Peru, but even more about myself! Eli, I miss you little boy! I bet it's weird not having someone yell at you at the dinner table... haha. And Davis- You would love it here- I wish you were with me!

Love you all xxoo

Micha Handler

FROM LINCOLN:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Peru has been an amazing experience unlike anything we could have done back at home. Mom and Dad, I miss you and will be excited to see you guys again when I get home. I have taken pictures and can't wait to show you. Peru is a great experience and it's too bad I can't go again.

Lincoln

Thursday/Friday - Posts from Full Moon

Thursday

FROM RAEGAN:

Hi guys!  Peru has been so amazing!  Today, we went to the school and sat in on some classes, and it was really fun to practice our Spanish with the kids at the school.  We have all been writing in our journals and taking some really great pictures of the landscape and cool places like the weaving co-operation!  There, we all got to weave our own bracelets!  The teachers have been really kind and generous towards us between taking pictures and making sure we stay healthy!  Tomorrow I think we will be playing soccer with the locals.  I am so excited!  I hope we have been putting up pictures on the blog so you can see our amazing adventures!

P.S. Mom & Dad,

I got a little bit sick tonight but Kennedy and the other teachers helped me feel better, and now I am great! Sorry Lincoln hasn't blogged, but just so you know, we are both healthy and feeling great!  I hope you are having fun on your trip!  See you soon!

Raegan

Friday

FROM AUDREY HUMMEL:

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to an elementary school and working on a fence and playing with the kids. In the afternoon we are hiking to the other ruins in the community. The ruins were once used for grain making. We will also visit our host families at lunch and dinner. The families are so incredibly nice and so welcoming! The kids are so funny and even though we don't speak the same language we have so much fun together!

The days are going by too quickly!

Mom, Dad, Andrew, & Teddy

I misI you all so much! but this trip is so amazing! Thank you for sending me here. it has been like nothing else I have ever done. The people here are probably the nicest families on earth, and all the kids are so cute!

Andrew and Ted Man- They don't sell hammocks here but i found you both other cool things! I miss you! I hope you are having fun with everyone in Sea Island.

Love you guys xoxo

See you all soon,

Audrey

FROM MICHA:

Hello Denver!

I'm having such a good time here! The culture is so different then anything in Colorado, but the people are like family. Every one in this small little village cares for you as if you are their own family. My Spanish is improving so that’s good!! I’m finally getting used to the town and the people! There is a little American bakery that my friends and I go to every day to get amazing cookies! The mountains here are breathtaking. My favorite day so far has been the rafting, even though it was the scariest. Our boat was the only boat that flipped, and it was super scary... but everyone was ok! Yesterday we went to the school, and I was in a science and English class. It is so interesting that you could get the same education living in such different surroundings!

Dear Mom&Dad, Eli&Davis,

I miss you guys so much! I haven't gotten homesick at all!! They have such cool stuff at the market. I can't wait to show you what I got you guys! Mom&Dad- thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I'm learning so much about Peru, but even more about myself! Eli, I miss you little boy! I bet it's weird not having someone yell at you at the dinner table... haha. And Davis- You would love it here- I wish you were with me!

Love you all xxoo

Micha Handler

FROM LINCOLN:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Peru has been an amazing experience unlike anything we could have done back at home. Mom and Dad, I miss you and will be excited to see you guys again when I get home. I have taken pictures and can't wait to show you. Peru is a great experience and it's too bad I can't go again.

Lincoln

Friday - Full Moon at the Elementary School

Friday - Full Moon Hike

A break on the hike

Coach Lemon carried everyone's pack

Friday - Inca's Garden Working at Puente Inca

Rebuilt after the flood

Plastering and sealing

The beauty that surrounds Puente Inca

After harvest

Red corn

Another ear of red corn

Before the work started

Time for play