I´m dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know..
It´s been a busy couple of weeks, I was "promoted" to group 1´s English, art, P.E. and poetry teacher...a.k.a. Sophie´s going to take you all on a long hike and point out English vocabulary. But the kids seemed to enjoy it and we made it through the two weeks. Thursday was Escuela Katitawa´s Christmas party. The volunteers had been "preparing" for this Christmas party for a few days. However, no one had any idea what was going on, we were preparing for a disaster really. We just knew that there was going to be a puppet show at some point and we were to create 3 scenes, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, baby, and donkey.
Warning. Warning. Some of the Content in this posting is graphic.
No Joke. (do not continue if you just ate, are planning on eating or have a weak stomach or have a love for rodents (or they creep you out)
The kids arrived with their families around 10 a.m. for the Christmas party. But that wasn't ALL they came with, each family also brought the main dish, CUY! That´s right-Guinea pig! Some cuy arrived in little buckets, some in plastic bags and at some point I even saw a live one eating his last meal in the corner of the kitchen on top of a pile of potatoes.
After the puppet show this elaborate traditional set up was created, where they seemed to be blessing the school and community (it was all in Quichua) and then they invited two of the volunteers (Stefan- from Canada and Francisco-from Portugal) to the center where this medicine man performed a blessing of good fortune and on Francisco, a cure of some sort. Each blessing lasted about twenty minutes and at a few points even the medicine man had to stop and rest. It was pretty funny to watch, the poor guys basically got whacked with a bush, smoke blown in their face and spit on from head to toe.
Next was the moment we have all been waiting for, my first (and last) roasted Guinea pig and intestine soup.
The kids got bags of candy while the volunteers thought up ways to steal it and then the kids ¨performed¨ a few dances . Which was a surprise to us since no one had practiced for anything, but the entire day (and just about everything here in Salasaca) seems to be impromptu.
At 3 PM I had to go home. It was probably a good thing, apparently the kids hit a couple pinatas but one didn't spill candy but a half shaved Guinea pig. And this pig had a note taped to its back that said in Spanish something like, "Antonetta (the kindergarten teacher) was lazy this year but will be better behaved next year." That's one way to review teacher performance, I guess.
Decided last minute to spend Christmas in Salasaca with five of the remaining volunteers. Christmas with a bunch of strangers was much more satisfying than I expected. We spent the day playing Beersbee, cooking and talking about our friends and family back home.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Friends & Family! I miss and love you all so much!
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| My puppet took the lead role of Mary and that´s my Angel understudy...I have a real talent for puppet making. |
Warning. Warning. Some of the Content in this posting is graphic.
No Joke. (do not continue if you just ate, are planning on eating or have a weak stomach or have a love for rodents (or they creep you out)
The kids arrived with their families around 10 a.m. for the Christmas party. But that wasn't ALL they came with, each family also brought the main dish, CUY! That´s right-Guinea pig! Some cuy arrived in little buckets, some in plastic bags and at some point I even saw a live one eating his last meal in the corner of the kitchen on top of a pile of potatoes.
After the puppet show this elaborate traditional set up was created, where they seemed to be blessing the school and community (it was all in Quichua) and then they invited two of the volunteers (Stefan- from Canada and Francisco-from Portugal) to the center where this medicine man performed a blessing of good fortune and on Francisco, a cure of some sort. Each blessing lasted about twenty minutes and at a few points even the medicine man had to stop and rest. It was pretty funny to watch, the poor guys basically got whacked with a bush, smoke blown in their face and spit on from head to toe.
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| kinda taste like a little salty chicken and I could not even swallow the soup |
The kids got bags of candy while the volunteers thought up ways to steal it and then the kids ¨performed¨ a few dances . Which was a surprise to us since no one had practiced for anything, but the entire day (and just about everything here in Salasaca) seems to be impromptu.
At 3 PM I had to go home. It was probably a good thing, apparently the kids hit a couple pinatas but one didn't spill candy but a half shaved Guinea pig. And this pig had a note taped to its back that said in Spanish something like, "Antonetta (the kindergarten teacher) was lazy this year but will be better behaved next year." That's one way to review teacher performance, I guess.
Decided last minute to spend Christmas in Salasaca with five of the remaining volunteers. Christmas with a bunch of strangers was much more satisfying than I expected. We spent the day playing Beersbee, cooking and talking about our friends and family back home.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Friends & Family! I miss and love you all so much!
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| that´s right..broccoli, beans, fries, rice, guacamole and a chicken, Happy Holidays! |
Hasta luego Salasaca
Left for Quito Monday . Ended up having to stand on the bus for almost half the bus ride, which would not of been soo bad except I might have broken my finger (during Beersbee) and was in so much pain.
Going to miss my Salasaca Family tons but excited for the next adventure!
Going to miss my Salasaca Family tons but excited for the next adventure!
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| Tamia and Pakarina, two of my favorites! |
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| Gringa |
Good job trying the food lol, BBQ next time :)
ReplyDeletewell there is a lot more good food coming up on your trip enjoy and thanks for all the great pic's makes me want to leave for a vacation and see the world.
Kurt
Thanks Kurt for keeping up with me! I was just telling someone yesterday that Boulder is still one of my favorite places in the world:)
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