America!

Hey all,

Hope you have been well lately. Just a quick update from our end!

Some fun news: I found out I got a final interview with a placement organization through Global Health Corps in Uganda at an HIV clinic! I also found out that I made it to the interview round for the fellowship through the American India Foundation to do public health work. Super exciting!
I am still MCAT prepping with only about 7 weeks to go (53 days to be exact...not that I'm counting) till my test date and I am continuing to work hard organizing and teaching some health trainings for our health promoters. I also bought my tickets to the states and I will be there May 14-June 3.

Cusco>Lima>Denver>Wedding>Chicago>MCAT>Summercamp>Portland>Wedding>Lima>Cusco. What a trip.

As of now, I will be leaving Sacred Valley Health around mid-July.

Adam has been having some great success lately as his products enter Whole Foods and a big chain in the UK. We have both been taking advantage of the beautiful scenery and life in Ollanta.
Getting back into the swing of things with his ever-improving Español. Adam has purchased his flight back to Chicago on May 17 without a return flight to Peru, so we're really doing our best to take advantage of the short time we have left here.

¡Hasta pronto!

Beautiful Ollanta

Fanny, our new health promoter

Teaching in the office about how a baby grows and how to best support women during their pregnancy in terms of nutrition

Adam's back in Peru (and beautiful mountains!)

Hello all!

Adam got back safely last Monday (can't believe it has been less than a week!) and we have been enjoying some beautiful mountain time with friends. So great to see him again!

We are looking forward to Dan's visit to Peru and the many hikes that we'll do in his presence.

I had my interview with Global Health Corps and I feel as if it went well. I find out if I get an interview with the American India Foundation fellowship this week!

Less than a month until my parents come to Peru, 2 months till the MCAT, and lots of work to fit in before I leave Peru. This week marks my 6 month anniversary being in Peru!

I just love it here.

Enjoy pictures below and have a wonderful afternoon!

Me in the place where I'd love to have a house someday

Roomie Sarah washing her clothes as we all do in our Lari Calle house

Adam enjoying his lunch right when he arrived overlooking Ollantaytambo

Full Moon Lodge with explanation of Andean cross

Many cows in our path

Adam enjoying his time in el Valle Sagrado

Lucy and Carlo

Sitting on a rock enjoying all that nature has to teach us

Pasando el día

Inca Stairs and Water Balloon Dodging

I enjoyed a most spectacular day hiking to and climbing the Inca stairs about 3 km outside of town (all 763 or so of them I will have you know!) with Lucy, Mary, and Jenny Beth. We spent a nice afternoon admiring cloud formations and feeling the protective mountains all around us. This week for work, I am gearing up to teach our first health training in a while. During the whole month of February, we did not have any because rainy seasons make it difficult to get to our

communities.

In Cusco right now, Carnival celebrations are in full force and although I tried to portray my best "I am a gringa foreigner and I don't want to be involved" face as I walked through the plaza, I couldn't seem to escape the spraying foam or water balloons chucked at me by a few enthusiastic Peruvian youth. I did, however, easily find some frutellada for S/1, my favorite strawberry drink, and took full advantage.

I made a few new items, one of which is the San Pedro/rosemary/Palo Santo body wash to sell most likely next week in the baratillo, Cusco's busy Saturday market, which was an adventure for sure last time.

I hear Adam is making some amazing connections and having some back-to-back synchronicities happen at Expo West, so it seems as if he's in the right place :) Can't wait to hear all about it in detail!

Adam and Alex at their booth!

This week, I will be interviewing for the Global Health Corps position and doing more thrilling MCAT study.

I wish you a wonderful day!

Things are moving along!

Hello all!

I hope all is well in the great US of A.

I found out that Courtney had her baby girl, Jane, and I am so excited for her! Without any pharmaceutical interventions either! Seriously impressive! Congratulations to her and Joel.

In Ollanta, the sun is shining and life has been pretty busy! I am excited that I get to see my friend Chelsea, with whom I studied abroad in Barcelona, in Cusco this Wednesday evening.

I spent the week working with a group of medical students and doctors from Wayne State Medical School and I really enjoyed my work of interpreting and observing many a pap smear and ultrasound. I also helped connect some patients with the Kausay Wasi Clinic for potential surgeries in the future.

On the Pachamama Reiki and Natural Products front, I sold many many pomades and tinctures in Cusco today. I was able to exchange my products for my stay in the Estrellita hostel on Calle Tullumayu since Francisco, the owner, wished to purchase them, and I sold many items today in the baratillo, which is Cusco's crazy and very crowded Saturday market. I feel so proud that people want to purchase my quality items, and I look forward to offering them even more.

I spent a nice few days in Cusco and Pisac with the new nurses working with SVH, Mary and Jenny Beth, who are just awesome. We went and bought a ton of supplies and plants for tinctures, pomades, and we will be making our own digestive liquor soon as well. So excited to spread the Mother Earth love. 

Some of our new ideas are to make a sacred cactus shampoo and make some pomades/tinctures with cocoa butter, lavender, and muña. We may also be formulating some lip balms soon as well.

Lastly, I found out that I made the semi-finals in Global Health Corps for a management position in a busy HIV clinic, which is a huge honor. They only choose 10 semi-finalists per position.

I still haven't heard from a few medical schools, but I should hear from 2 within the next week. 

Keep me updated with your lives and I hope you enjoy the little insight into mine at this time.

<3

Amazing organic veggies from the Albergue

Cidroncillo/muña tincture 

Med students in our office organizing medications

Eucalyptus!

Mary and Keri with a cute girl during our health campaigns

Me selling my tinctures and pomades in the baratillo, Cusco's crazy busy Saturday market

Jenny Beth and Mary, the new nurse volunteers with SVH, helping today with tinctures pomades, and lip balms

Making organic lavender mint lip balms today

Enjoying a jug of frutellada in Cusco