Monday, June 4, 2012

Spiderman visits Paru Paru


On his third day, Alan went with Leander Hollings, Andres and a schoolfriend of Andres to Paru Paru. Paru Paru is the village Andres was born and raised in. It is located above Calca and therefore quite a long journey from Cusco, where Andres now lives. Andres never gets the opportunity to visit Paru Paru since being struck with Poliomielitis.


The group visited Paru Paru´s primary school, where Andres insisted on handing out bananas to the children, which was sponsored by Loki Hostel. Not able to part the bananas himself, he was helped by his schoolfriend to distribute the fruit. The children loved his wheelchair, and with Spiderman carrying Andres where wheelchair access was not possible, they were quite the attraction.





Giving out fruit






























Andres and the schoolchildren




Andres and Spiderman were shown the school´s little museum with artefacts found in the area. The children themselves explained the meaning and use of each artifact, using sign language as the inhabitants of this little village only speak Quechua.

Later, the group went to look at a piece of land which Andres is the rightful owner. It is the place he lived when he could still walk, growing up a normal child like anyone else; during the time he had spent in hospital, the land was used by relatives of his, which now makes it difficult to claim back. MSH is helping Andres to claim his land back, on which he wants to build a tourist house as a means of support for him and his community.


Revisiting the places Andres used to know as a child, the group went to see the lagoons above Paru Paru. By chance, they met a woman who turned out to be a childhood friend of Andres. The two had always walked to the lagoons together when Andres could still use his legs, so the reunion was a very happy one, as they had not seen each other or heard from each other in years.




Spiderman, Andres, and his childhood friend with her baby in front of one of the lagoons


Spiderman and Andres exploring the lagoons


The next highlight of the day was meeting Andres´ grandparents. As his parents both passed away when he was smaller, his grandparents are the closest relatives remaining for him, and because they live in such a remote area, they never get a chance to meet.



























Andres with his grandparents



The day ended with the whole party watching a football game, one of Andres wishes, concluding this amazing day.

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