¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Feliz año nuevo! Our first whole day in Arequipa is complete! This morning, we slept in and got some much-needed rest after our travel adventure the last few days. Despite a few of us abruptly waking up to the bright morning sun at 5 am, all of us agree that it is wonderful to be in the presence of warm Peruvian sunlight! For breakfast, we went to a small crepe and coffee café near our hostel. Then, we ventured to Mercado San Camilo, a local Arequipeñan market. 

While the colors of the market were vibrant, we were most struck by the vast array of scents and smells that greeted us. There were sections for meat, produce, fish, flowers, textiles, and even a whole aisle for pressed fruit juice; each had a distinct smell! Many of the vendors had yellow flower petals sprinkled over their counters; yellow balloons, confetti, and underwear were also for sale. We later learned that Peruvians consider yellow to be a symbol of prosperity, renewal, and growth for the new year. 

In the afternoon, we had a team debrief meeting before going out to lunch. It was great to brainstorm b-roll locations, solidify logistical details, and reflect on how our mission to think globally and act locally will manifest itself during our time here in Peru. Then, we walked to the Yanahuara district to shoot some b-roll from a scenic overlook of Arequipa. We caught our first sunset and ate at a wonderful grill for dinner. Now, we are back at the hostel gearing up for a busy next few days; we are so excited to partner with HOOP and other community members to discover how the story will unfold!

In gratitude,

Grace