The power of ONE has made it to Peru

62 applications, 372 interviews, countless days of planning and (post selection) 5 months of bonding and preparation have all come down to one. Day-one of an adventure that will forever change the lives of eleven high school students.

If you would have asked me what the coming weeks were going to look like a year ago, I can promise you I would have described something completely different from the journey that is about to unfold. The 2011 Globetrotter Program was supposed to be centered on spirituality and self-actualization, culminating in a three-week trip to India. Seeing as we just landed in Lima, Peru, I think it’s safe to say there has been a radical change of plans.

A little history…

In April of this year we were alerted to the fact that the Indian Consulate is now requiring all minors to show proof that both of their parents possess valid US passports. A lot to ask considering 1) less than 30% of all Americans own a passport, and 2) Dustin’s GreenHouse is (for the most part) working with a group of first-generation travelers. “Mom and Pop” passports were out of the question for our group! So we rallied together and got busy. We applied every bit of due-diligence, every ounce of resourcefulness and every contact we could muster to finding a solution to the Indian Visa problem. (Just to put these efforts into perspective… US Senator Kay Hagan, US Congressman Howard Coble, 3 different attorneys, the Director of an Indian-based tourism company and an Indian pries­t were among the powerhouses in the DGH corner.)

Despite our best efforts, the clock was ticking, and by the end of the month our leadership team knew we had to make a decision. Either stick with India and risk everything falling apart at the last minute, which would have resulted in the 2011 DGH Globetrotters going nowhere, or come up with a Plan B. Welcome to day-one of Plan B (something I wholeheartedly believe was meant to stand for “Plan Blessing”).

Since our switch-a-roo at the beginning of May I have watched a collection of (teen-aged) strangers change gears, adjust expectations and grow into an incredible team of one. The maturity and flexibility with which our kids (and their families) have embraced this new plan of attack has been nothing short of remarkable. It’s been an experience unlike anything else we’ve faced over the Globetrotter Program’s 8-year history… it has brought the core of Dustin’s GreenHouse to light: we are so much more than just a “trip.”

I have included a quick outline of our “Plan B” Peruvian itinerary below. Over the next 18 days we will post as often as we can. So far, all is good on day-one. We are almost all through Customs and headed to the hotel for a good night’s rest. Adios for now.

• The first leg of our trip will be based out of Cusco. We will allow the kids a day to acclimate to the 12,000 foot altitude before going to the Sacred Valley and then to Machu Picchu. From there we will hike Choquequirao and later visit Lake Titicaca. 
• The second leg of our trip will be in Iquitos. We will be working with People for Peru and Poppy’s House, an orphanage for young girls. We will immerse ourselves in the small village of Santa Tomas, and will host a talent show to unite the people of the area and our team.  We will be setting up a computer lab in Poppy’s House and work with the children of the children who live in the orphanage.
• The third leg of our trip will be a three-day jungle trip down the Amazon. We will visit small villages and learn about their customs and geography. We will bring clothing and medicine to the people in each village we visit.
• During the fourth leg of our trip we will return to Iquitos.  We will work with families in the slums of Belen and spend a night in a home-stay environment giving our students the opportunity to experience what life is like for families living in extreme poverty.  
• Our last stop before heading back to the United States will be at a retirement home in Lima.  The elderly people in this home have been all but forgotten by society.  We will prepare and serve lunch and spend some much needed quality time with the residents.