Jungle Love

Yesterday I returned from Huallanca after being gone for almost 2 weeks. I was traveling for Thanksgiving break and then for some “early in-service” Peace Corps training. It was a much needed time away and I have returned feeling refreshed and very rejuvenated and ready to work! I got to see some new parts of Peru including the jungle, and the dessert where I got to play in giant sand dunes. For now I am going to share some photos from my time in the jungle J

There is something about the jungle that seems so magical to me. Maybe it’s because we don’t have jungle in the States so to me it’s so amazing. I was able to spend Thanksgiving weekend in the jungle while helping out with Jerry’s NGO “Peruvian Smiles”. We went to what they call "the eyebrow of the the jungle" because its where the jungle begins. We worked with 4 smaller groups of kids, taught them how to care for their teeth, gave them some dental supplies, and the dentists put fluoride on their teeth. It was SO much fun to spend time in the jungle, spend time with Jerry, and help out with his NGO. I met Jerry in Lima and the company who sponsors his NGO drove us and three others from the NGO a total of ten or more hours to the state of Junin where we stayed a few days to work with the kids. I spent Thanksgiving day driving in the car to get to the jungle, but at least I got to be with someone that I really care about. I called my family to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and I of course felt a little homesick all day, thinking of my family and wishing that I could be with them. But I did survive my first Thanksgiving away from my family which is something to say!

Here are some photos from the trip:

(more photos from my trip to the desert coming very soon!)

Road trip to the jungle! :)

On a walk to enjoy the beauty of the jungle :)

There are always adorable children  to love on everywhere I go :)

Helping out during the dentist campaign 

Jerry in action

Irene, my new friend :)

Holding a wild parrot! 

One of the group's of children we worked with.

So happy :)

The group: two dentists and three volunteers.

Stopping for lunch on the way home at a fresh trout restaurant

In Peru they serve the entire fish...