Are we there yet?

I realized I posted this on the wrong blog. Woops:

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The end of winter quarter decided it would be really fun to tackle me with Rod Blagojevich, Dance Marathon and final projects galore. My body has decided to retaliate by seducing me with sleep and the coziness of my bed. The combination of all of it has made for a rather overwhelming few weeks. But I have had some time to make some mean dumplings for an nuAsian magazine assignment.

But Peru is almost here and I am dancing in my seat with excitement. To make a long story short, Rotary International is filming our involvement in Peru for a upcoming documentary, we are working on some great, sustainable projects with Pisco Sin Fronteras and I am looking forward to forging connections with those in the Rotaract clubs of both Lima and Pisco. Especially with the recent devastations in Haiti and Chile, the efforts with PSF are a reminder that rebuilding and recovery takes longer than the six months that most NGOs and large organizations choose to stay. It has been two years since the large earthquake.

So this year, the Rotaract Club of Northwestern will be heading to Lima and Pisco for spring break to help. While ten days is hardly enough time to leave a substantial imprint, I trust that our efforts will still be valuable. Amanda, former NU alumna and a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, has been a godsend for helping us with our itinerary and communication with the Peruvian chapters.

While constructing compost toilets, rebuilding community homes, redoing roofs, painting murals, working on biofuel projects and removing rubble and construction from beaches and homes does not sound like a walk in the park and a day tanning at the beach, I would not spend my spring break any other way. These are only a fraction of the opportunities with PSF and I am stoked.

My personal goals for the trip? Exposing myself to a new culture, forging friendships within our own club and with others and raising awareness about what students like us can do. Oh, and of course, eating delicious Peruvian food.

Learn more here. The WordPress blog speaks to a collaboration between multiple Northwestern student organizations who are travelling and volunteering with a focus on water. It is still rough, so please mind the construction.