Back from Cusco, Lake Titicaca

We've returned to New Jersey after a fantastic trip exploring Cusco, hiking the Inca Trail with the girls, and visiting Lake Titicaca. Many thanks to the TTS teachers, Jennifer, Lander, Whitney, Dawn, and TTS in general for making this trip possible for our family. Especially, many thanks to all who helped our kids along the trail, as Ellen and I were up to our ears just making it to camp ourselves each evening. The boys were grateful for all the attention and assistance along the way. William frequently mentions Lander with great fondness for her help on the third day. I was grateful for all the advice on making the camping and hiking more comfortable, especially Jennifer and Lander's help figuring out how to get dry after the rain and hail on the way over Dead Woman Pass.

We enjoyed seeing the girls in action. I was impressed with their strength and determination. Seeing them and their teachers on this trip reinforced my already strong feeling that this is a uniquely challenging and ultimately extremely valuable experience for the students.

We enjoyed the wonderful company on our trip. I hope the bike trip was a big success. Ford, Jim, Jim, Buzz, Matt, Walt, Lander - best wishes. Barb, Patty, Dawn, Jennifer, we very much enjoyed being with all of you during the Lake Titicaca phase of the trip. Dawn, Jennifer, thanks for instigating the "jump in the lake". My brother was so happy to hear we had taken a dip in Lake Titicaca, as it is our tradition to do the same in Montana in all the high mountain lakes we manage to find on our hikes there.

I posted a few photos, mostly taken by Will (the wrw folder), who was fascinated with the the colors, the animals, and the scenery. There were a few more "people shots" among the photos I took (wwiv folder). Thanks in advance for any photos posted by other participants.

Bill Wraith

About the girls - from Jennifer

Hey Parents!
We´re back from Machu Picchu. What a great trip. The girls were amazing hikers and campers. They trudged up and down the steep Inca trails happily, gobbling up news of the US, listening to the history of our surroundings, and interacting endearingly with the visiting parents and friends on the fundraising trip. I am so impressed with all of your daughters. They have formed an incredible bond with one another and are so fun to be around.

One notable memory I have was on the last night of the hike, because we were such a big group (32 in all), we had to eat at the restaurant/bar, which was amazingly at our last campsite. It felt a little awkward to me, having all the group in this place with others celebrating their accomplishments on such a tough trail. The girls, however, were completely in their own world. We had a big line of tables on the lower level of the establishment. They started playing one of their group games together and were laughing hysterically at each other until the rest of the people present couldn´t help but enjoy their fun. The porters were lined up outside at the windows as the finalists in this game had to move from merely talking silly (trying to make each other laugh) to a quite serious dance off. In the end, it came to a vote, and the entire restaurant joined in! (I´m not kidding!)

Anyway, we have one more day with your girls. Some of my group has left for a few days of biking in Peru. Still others are here with me in Cusco and will get to join in on Claire´s history class this afternoon as they tour Cusco. Then, we´re off to Puno and Lake Titicaca. I will meet up again with the girls on April 28th and stay with them around Lake Titicaca until May 2nd. We feel so honored to be allowed a glimpse of this wonderful semester your daughters are experiencing. They are incredibly engaged and excited about what they are doing. Their teachers are inspiring to watch; their careful and creative planning, fun-loving spirit, and unwavering leadership has brought these girls together so magically. I wish you could all be here to witness the program and hope this message brings a tiny inkling of what the semester is like for your daughters.
Cheers,
Jennifer Royall

Hola from Cusco

Hi, all! A quick note to let you know that we are back from our hike to Machu Picchu! The girls are absolutely AMAZING!!! It was very inspiring watching them hike with their 45+ pound packs while I was huffing and puffing with my (maybe) 15 pound pack. They are an incredible group of girls, each and every one of them!

I´ll let the girls update you on the hike. It was grueling at times, but everyone made it without incident. To be sure, sore legs, very sore knees even for those without knee problems, a few sunburns, and lots of very wet clothes on day 2, but we all had a great time.

There are quite a few group photos and I´ve been trying to take individual photos of the girls to send home. I may not be able to send until I get home next week.

Watching the group in action has been incredible! I´ve been able to sit through a few classes to see the teachers in action as well. Rest assured, any anxiety, homesickness for your daughter, nervousness, etc about sending your daughter away for a semester was well worth it! They are doing fantastic, and really, are a truly amazing group!

Love to all!
Barb

Phone call from Punta Union

I just wanted to let everyone know that I just received the most incredible voice mail from the whole group. They are doing a 6-day backpacking trip right now in a remote area in the Andes. The most strenuous day is when they cross the high pass of Punta Union at 12,500 feet. The girls called and everyone in the group yelled into the phone - "Happy Anniversary, Gennifre & Taylor!" It brought tears to my eyes to think of them all happily yelling in the thin mountain air on top of the high pass.

For those who don't know, Taylor and I got engaged at the top of the pass on a Traveling School semester in 2003. It seems that "Punta Union" was aptly named.

Thanks for the great voice mail, ladies!

-Gennifre