If this is how my days flow for my two years of service, I will be a happy woman.
A fellow volunteer, America, that lives in the town 1 hour walking distance away, was coming to visit this morning. But, this weekend is the festival of the anniversary of Madrigal, so we weren't sure if she would be able to catch a ride on a comvi or milk truck. So, I rose early and walked to the center plaza every half hour to check for her arrival. Between jaunts I cleaned this week's fruit, read, practiced yoga, and listend to radio downloads of "This American Life" -LOVE that show.
Around 9am I walked to the municipality to borrow paint brushes and began painting my room with my host sister Roxana. She had never painted before, and it was fun to teach her the techniques. The only part I wasn't ready for was for the wall to crumble in places under the gentle touch of the brush. It look a light hand to get the job done, but the paint acted like glue keeping adobe and sand particles from falling. America arrived mid paint job. She ended up walking here and found her way to my house through word of mouth. "Where does the gringa live?" is a pretty easy question to answer in a 700-person town, and it didn't take long for her to find me.
When the paint ran out we went to try and join the festivities but my host sister (Roxana) was tending to the cows and my house father (Don Juan) was still working the field, so America decided to catch a comvi that was headed back to her town a little earlier than we had hoped. I took a hike up the canyon to enjoy the strong wind and clear skies, and walked back with a little lady and her mother. Both of their names are quechuan and I can't pronounce them for the life of me, but it seems being silly and interested can get you miles here. If I ask a lot of questions and make little silly jokes left and right they want to know me more and involve me in their lives. It is a pleasure and a treat.
Feeling exhausted from the hike I took a nap at my temporary bed in the municipality and was awakened 2 hours later by my host sister at the door reminding me that I was late for dance practice. Huaino is how I think you would spell the name of the dance we are doing. It is a flirty, hoppy dance involving handholding, twirls, and lots of laughs. I think rehearsing is a majority of the fun. The girls dress in mens' clothing and the men in girls' and we play opposite rolls. It is incredibly silly and so entertaining. We will compete tomorrow against other groups that have prepared traditional dances. Hopefully I can sneak some photos. After rehearsing the elders served hot chocolate and bread to all who danced and everyone chatted. I have started picking up some words in quechua, and have faith that it will come, especially when everyone is tickled pink to teach a white person their traditional tongue. I just need to get my "ichis" and "ackas" down.
Tomorrow I have a 7am meeting at the health post with the elders of the town, then I offered to fix lunch with for my host father and sister. I bought some spinach, parmasean, noodles, garlic, and olive oil in when I traveled into Chivay earlier this week. I hope they enjoy the combination of flavors! I will be using the house stove of bricks and firewood as my gas stove is not set up yet. I think the whole family is excited, me included. Parmasean is expensive, so it won't be as rich a sauce as I would like, but it appears that if you salt anything like crazy Peruvians tend to enjoy it.
Now, I have retired to my room to read through Barron's "1001 pitfalls in Spanish". I am determined to be not proficient, but fluent, we will see.
What a lovely day.
No comments:
Post a Comment