The following post features student writing.

After hours of digging dirt, picking rocks, and carrying adobe bricks yesterday, the group slept in later today. We ate a tasty breakfast of chicken and veggies and then split into our work groups. Cam, Cara, Shannan, and I were very disappointed to find that our amazing leader Mario had already gone to another village. So we joined Ellie, Katia, Stella, Katie, and Alex at Luciano’s house to mix mud, straw, and water with our feet to make adobe bricks for his bathroom. Although the rocks in the mud hurt our feet, we had a lot of fun throwing straw at each other and getting muddy. Meanwhile, Lucas and his group went to Juan’s house to dig a hole to lay the foundation for his bathroom. After work everyone went to the school to help teach kids. Dhyia and Harper had the sixth graders draw portraits of themselves and took pictures of the kids with their drawings. Giacomo and I played a game of soccer with the kids after the girls were done teaching. We had so much fun and will definitely go back tomorrow to play again. After school we walked home with two local children called Jean-Pierre and Harold and talked about their day at school. The group then returned back to the cocina where Mario and Milton cooked the best lunch of the trip: lomo saltado and pizza. Everyone was exhausted  so we spent the next few hours relaxing. Stella and Matt knitted scarves while Rennae and some of the girls chatted in their room. At 5 PM Katie and Matt led us down to the local field for a soccer practice in preparation for the game against the other Putney group in the nearby town of Qenqo tomorrow. Our team is looking very good and our celebrations are on point. Afterward we had a dinner of fried rice and played a fun game before going to bed. Everyone is in good spirits and health and is excited for the rest of our stay in the village. Till next time! Adios.

– Filip