What a time of ups and downs this is for me. I woke Saturday morning with so much back pain I almost panicked. Couldn´t imagine how I´d do field based training in a week with a 17 hour bus ride and carrying my backpack. But my trusty yoga routine for back pain re-aligned my back and by 1AM in the middle of the fiesta, I was dancing.
So I´ve now been in the middle of a quinceñeros in my house in Peru. What a blast. I really enjoyed the day spend helping cook and prepare in the kitchen with my host mom, her niece, and the first Peace Corps volunteer to have lived in their home, Vishel (originally from Chicago). Vishel came to be the official excort for my host sister and dance the first dance with her. I enjoyed talking (and lots of laughing) with him throughout this whole thing.
The fiesta started at midnight (yep,you read that right!) with Vishel escorting Milagros down the walk to the house and through an arch of balloons. I don´t want to remember how many balloons we blew up that day. The house had been repainted (much of it that day) and extensively decorated. Then Milagros walked through her court of friends blowing out candles. Then followed formal presentations by her mom, dad, Vishel, godmother and I´m not sure who all else. Words from someone hired to MC the program. Then a formal waltz with all the important men in the room. A toast of some delicious cocktail made from orange syrup and pisco.
And then the party began. Lots of young people lining the room eyeing each other like at high school dances. My host mom wanted the dancing to start so she chased all the gringos out on the dance floor and yes, yours truly can dance to cumbia. Several volunteers from my group had come to share this celebration. Well then the young people came out on the dance floor along with the cervesa. Dancing went on and on. Lots of delicious appetizers made earlier in the day. About 2AM, dinner was served, ahi de gallina which is a Peruvian version of creamed chicken on rice and potatoes. By that time, the young people were getting fried so my host mom served them huge portions of food after which they began to stagger home. The family including the elders about my age had more staying power than the kids!
At 4 am, I went to my room, put in ear plugs and dozed off and on. I heard balloons popping and "Feliz cumpleaños" hollered at about 630AM after which the cake was cut. I heard the party officially ended around 730. Needless to say the house and family were wiped the next day. I slept some, did homework and am back in class today.
I wouldn´t have missed it for the world! Yawn. I took lots of photos which I can´t seem to post online because the upload is so painfully slow. And I have too much homework to wait for an upload to occur. Someday I´ll have time for this!
Cheers
Sarita
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4 comments:
that is so special and great that you already got to celebrate a 15th - and in your house, even! Know that there will be many more of those to come...
Wow...what an experience. By piecing things together I now think I understand what the quincenera celebration is about! In my limited Spanish, I thought it was a state holiday! Shawn can probably tell me a lot more.
Odile took her citizenship test today (had to read something in English to prove she knows the language...something like: "I am happy to become an American citizen"). Ten questions, all of which were so simple and of course, she didn't miss any.
Grandma picked Miriam up from Pre-school mid-day...fun seeing her in the midst of all the other chldren in her class. She is, of course, the tallest AND is the youngest by a year.
Made "Spanish rice" for the Kaylor family tonight to celebrate Odile's citizenship and to comfort Greg who became a victim of the economic downturn today...what a day. Everyone at their house loves it like our family did. Mother's old recipe is surely making the rounds.
Cheers....
Sara, I just caught up with all your postings of what's happened to you since you left Madison. What a journey you are on--you are doing wonderfully!! Not at all a surprise! Despite my very delayed message to you, you have been in my thoughts frequently over the last 2 months.
The fall has been incredibly busy--somehow it never dawned on me how complicated and emotional the move-in and adjustment period would be. By and large everything is going smoothly--just a lot of time and energy.
The quinceaneros sounds like quite an event. I've only seen photos in South Texas--you are indeed lucky. I will write an actual letter when I get your next address.
Hey Sara,
I love the blog. It is great to hear you are having such a good time, despite pain and dirty underwear. Haha.
I just wanted to send you my cheers encourage you to keep updating this blog. It is a little slice of life.
Thanks
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