Saturday June 25th

We didn't wake up until about 10 this morning and after a light breakfast where Uziel and I had a passionate discussion about whether New Zealand or Peru was a better country, we went out to a BBQ hosted by one of Uziel's friends, Carlos (who we had met at the rock concert). However, we discovered that the BBQ was not at 11 as planned, because the meat had not arrived. Instead it would be at 4 which meant we could not go because Joyce's flight was at 5, and Katia and Uziel could not go as they had to work.

The Mirador (white building), high above Ayacucho

Why are all the posters here of white people?

We went to the restaurant for lunch and were treated to a real delicacy, a river fish that comes with the head and all on your plate! Katia grossed us out by eating the eyes! Alison tried to eat one but spat it out on the floor - yikes!

We ate a whole fish, Katia ate the eyes!

Last meal as a family

Joyce had to go and pack but Katia and Uziel were off to work so had to say goodbye! Joyce started to cry, and everyone started to cry and it was awful. Even though we've only known each other for three weeks we've barely spent three hours apart and we've all come to rely on each other so much.

Bye Joyce

As a final act Joyce threw her old white Vans over a telephone wire. Seriously, that  is actually really hard to do! We spent about 15 minutes trying and failing.

We got to the airport about an hour and half early which was way too long for the one counter airport. After five minutes she had checked in and all that was left was to had to pass by the one security worker to the one waiting lounge. Instead we went upstairs to the one coffee shop. Joyce got a cookie, Alison tea, and I got a coffee.

We managed not to cry until we were standing at the security gate but then Alison began to cry, and then Joyce, and then even I was crying. Just as Joyce went past the security worker, her Spanish teacher showed up, flushed from rushing. They could only wave goodbye through the window - will they ever see each other again?

Us and Ana-Luisa, Joyce's tutor

We went upstairs and watched Joyce board the plane. The music in the airport was literally the saddest music ever which was awful! What are we going to do without Joyce? We also talked to the Spanish teacher who will miss Joyce too. She told us she sometimes volunteers to visit remote villages to bring supplies to them, and some of them speak only Quetua - so cool!

We headed back on the bus with heavy hearts and recognition of the growing distance between us and Joyce. Now we can't stop noticing, and dreading, how close Alison and I are to leaving ourselves.