The bus we took to FBT was a giant charter bus and we rode in the VIP section, which has cushy reclining chairs that made the 16 hour ride seem much more manageable. We winded through narrow mountain roads that curved to the form of the cliffs. The ride was absolutely beautiful- terraced patches of green and tan, gorges carved into the mountain sides, and sharp peaks contrasting with the intensely blue sky. When I looked out the window, I couldn’t see the road but only plummeting valley below.

Cajamarca city is beautiful; although it is the regional capital, it maintains a definite sense of tradition and history that is evident in the intricate architecture of churches, red tile roofs, and stone lined walkways as well as campesinos in traditional dress with large skirts and knit hats. We checked into our hostel, which had an awesome view of the surrounding mountains and rooftops, and then had lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we were met with current volunteers and the Cajamarca regional coordinator. Hearing anecdotes and advice from their service was beneficial and helped me get a better grasp of what to expect in the upcoming 2 years. It was a strange sensation as we faced the panel of volunteers who were about to head back to the US as we are preparing to begin our service. Almost all of the commentary was positive, and many seemed as though they would have happily switched places with us and done it all over again. Later, we wondered around Cajamarca and enjoyed dinner before planning the following day’s English lesson.