A Wheaton Visitor

I am long overdue for a blog update but a short one is going to have to do for now because I am leaving tomorrow for a mini-vacation (more to come on that next week!). Last weekend Dr. Toly, one of my professors at Wheaton, came for an advisory visit and I had a great time showing him around Lima. We were able to see the Lomas of Villa Maria where I work, spend a day around the city with my family, go to my church Sunday morning, and have a delicious seafood lunch with my supervisor and co-worker at A Rocha.

Dr. Toly also helped me define my Independent Study which is essentially writing a report/proposal for an interdisciplinary conservation project in the urban lomas of Lima. It will involve a mesh of researching, writing, and synthesizing as I consider existing data and devise a methodology to engage and empower local stakeholders. The implications of a successful project here are huge and the potential benefits for the surrounding communities and ecosystem health make it all the more exciting. 

 

Here are a handful of pictures from the weekend:

Esteban enjoying El Parque de los Aguas or the "Water" Park

My beautiful family. 

A very cool church in downtown Lima. 

My co-worker Jose Luis and I at the lomas of Villa Maria

Dr. Toly and I with our super excited taxi-chollo driver.
Apparently being from Chicago made us really cool.
I also might note here that he is the one that asked us for a photo. 

My supervisor Sarah-Lan and Jose Luis at the market for lunch. 

This is looking out at San Cristobal (the former loma) and
what is left of the highly contaminated Rimac river by the
time it gets to Lima.