It was a fun, short paddle from Arequipa to Veinte de Enero, but it resulted in a whole new world for us. I think we are all in love with this super friendly village. One of the first people we met was Lizardo Linares Rios. Not only is he one of the six teachers here, he also runs the tiny general store where people can get some basic supplies.

I went over to Lizardo's store/home which is right across the soccer field from our beautiful porch accommodations. We communicated a little as I was purchasing a large, warm bottle of Peru Cola for the team. He indicated he would like to learn a little more English from me. I promised I would come back with a copy of my vocabulary sheet I've been using to remember some new words in Spanish.

On Sunday morning, I had the opportunity to visit with Lizardo and his wife Rosa. I munched on some "Tarzan" animal cookies and they shared a soda with Ruben (my faithful interpreter) and me. Rosa and Lizardo both teach secondary classes at the small school here. In Peru, there is Kindergarten, Primary classes (ages 6 - 11) and Secondary (ages 12 - 16). There area total of 80 students here and many paddle in each morning from smaller villages such as Buenas Aires or Arequipa. Many students are responsible for setting the family fishing nets each day, so school starts a bit later here--8:00 a.m. Classes go until 12:30 p.m., although some students are taking special classes to learn about reforestation of the palms and aguaje until 1:30 p.m.

Lizardo and Rosa have university degrees in teaching and are on annual contracts from the government. Like teachers in the US, they need to take professional development seminars (usually in Nauta) and they belong to a national association of teachers. Their biggest challenge is having the supplies they need to teach. Sometimes it takes quite a while to get the necessary textbooks and often there is only one book for all students!

Rosa clued me in as to why this town is named Veinte de Enero, and unfortunately it's not very exciting or surprising. This town was founded on the 20th of January in 1972. I chatted for a while longer with my new friends, then I headed across the way to see what was going on at the communal clay oven building, where Dave and Jesse had convinced some of the women to fire it up and make us tasty baked treats with yuca flour (as well as bake the second chicken we bought here!).

The way these small villages live and work together communally is amazing. It's hard to tell which children belong to whom or who lives where. People are always hanging out at each other's houses, caring for each other's children and helping each other out---kind of like one giant family! We have enjoyed being part of this amazing group of people in Veinte de Enero and I think we will all be a little sad when we have to leave.

Jennifer

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Lizardo shows off a young tree which his students have replanted in the forest as part of a reforestation project.

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Lizardo cuts out a heart of palm, which we ate for dinner last night.

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Standing in her parents' store, Lizardo's daughter supervises our meeting.

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Dave helps locals bake bread in their community oven.