Here's to the starving kids in Africa

Meet Junior. He is a little dude that really leaves an impression. This kid eats like a machine, devouring bowl, after bowl, after bowl. And rightly so. He's grown up (in all of his 5 yrs) with the uncertainty of not knowing if & when your next meal is coming. It's kind of frightful watching him eat - it's like he's gonna make himself sick. I have to say, it's a memory I will take with me forever. 

But, thanks to some awesome people like Isaac, Elisabeth and dedicated volunteers like Judi from Wyoming, these kids are now getting food everyday at school. 

The crazy thing for me was to witness what happens when you take a starving child & give it some food consistently for a few days. I had no idea that the transformation could be so remarkable. Ombeni (the little boy in the last two pics) was seriously underweight & had trouble keeping his eyes open. But after some good feeding (and a few kind words), he became the smartest kid in the class. He also had so much energy, that every day after school he'd see me leave the school gates & run for a massive jump hug. Most incredible feeling ever. 

The other thing that happens is that their personalties come out. When someone's not worried about food anymore, I guess they can focus on the fun stuff. Some little ones (like Gracious - the kid in the pic below with the yellow backpack) are mental as anything. Like I mean, TROUBLE with caps. Junior also got to be a bit of a Mr Man at school - let's just say he didn't take crap from anyone!

It's been a while since my last post about the kids in Tanzania & I thought it was time to dedicate one to these guys. So, here's to the (now thankfully, not-so) starving kids of HillCrest.

Pan de la vida

I love cultures that love food. And Peru would have to be right up there with the best of them. The best thing about Peruvian food is the absolute simplicity. Local Cusco fare is rustic and humble, but tastes out of this world. Key ingredients? Potato, rice, giant maize and bread.

It's an extraordinary experience to wander through the markets (and surrounding streets) of Cusco. Old ladies from Andean villages come down the steep goat tracks from the mountains, with their horses and satchels to set up shop on the floor or on a bench. A pop up store, selling their home grown fruit, veggies or slain meats. Nope. Not exaggerating.

The other thing is, it is really confronting. Too bad if you're a vegetarian, meat is on the menu. And not the prime cuts either. These guys use every last scrap, offal like you've never seen before! Sorry in advance if you're squeamish...