My closest women friends planned the day to come cry with me in waves. They each came to the house, one at a time, to give me a small gift, a hug, and a cry. Then, talk about the past two years and how we will keep in touch.
It was a beautiful and rough day. Finishing up my packing, seeing my room without "me" in it. Looking at the large (but so small at the same time) suitcase I would be carrying with me. And, crying with these women I love so dearly.
I spent a large portion of the day staring up the mountain willing elvis to arrive in time from the alpaca ranch to say goodbye.
I swung by the library to check on how Encuentros de Padres was going a few times, and the president of VALE was running things wonderfully. She asked me to come back and give the prizes to the parents with punctual attendance at the end of the workshop.
Once the homemade pumpkin pie and pizza for the going away party were coming out of the oven Gustavo, Mikel and I popped into the library.
Ssusan, the new VALE president, had organized the parents;
"And now," she says "before we give the parents their awards, some of you would like to say a few words to Srta Luz about how she has affected your children's lives."
I could have died (is it overly dramatic to say that? ... not so much)
Many parents spoke. More than I could bare. I twitched and smiled and laughed and cried. I attacked each parent's little ones with kisses and bear-hugs.
A couple of the teachers shuffled their little ones to me with cards and drawings they had done at school that day.
The fifth grade class presented a song they wrote.
A few of the 6th graders presented a puppet show they also wrote.
Every single parent formally presented themself to me, shook my hand/hugged me in a kind of make-lu-feel-as-uncomfrotable as possible parade.
Their thoughtfulness and attentiveness was astonishing.
The older boys grabbed some benches from the library and we paraded back to my house to eat. Some of the elders as well as some of my teenagers showed up at the house. Many women were bearing gifts comparable to those that are given at weddings; baskets of maiz, freshly pressed cheese, a hand woven headpiece, embroidery.
Such an honor.
I was stressing a little about cooking and serving food and drinks, and suddenly I had more hands and help than I could have asked for. With Mikel doing the cooking and Elizabeth serving the drinks I was able to serve the food and talk to everyone. But here was something missing.
Washington and Roxana begin a series of games with the little ones.
I was incredibly impressed wth Washington in particular because I know no other adolescent male who would give two shits about playing with kids, let alone sing along with them. He wasn't the least bit self conscious to be a kid and compassionate male leading childrens activities.
The kids who lost each round had to come give me a kiss, hug, or 'palabras'.
The parents and teachers were having as much fun as the kids were watching them fight over the seats in musical chairs...
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| my darling robert too shy to give me a kiss |
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| a bear hug will do... rildo knows he is next |
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| sweet norma |
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| brandi is having way too much fun |
Games were followed by my 'palabras'.
I formally gave words and gifts to some of the people closest to me, personally, in my service.
Mercedes, Don Juan y Juana, Elvis... and lastly: Roxna.
This was my 'toast' to Roxana:
Roxana, we have metamorphized together more than I could have ever
imagined in these two years. I feel honored to have been a part of your life
and development, and I cannot thank you enough for being such a profound part
of mine. My shy, quiet, observing Roxana has become a brave, dependable,
active, leader. When you speak, we all listen. You are the most responsible and
clever young woman I have ever met. I love you and always will.
We both collapsed into each others arms in tears for more time than allowed the rest of the guests to feel comfortable.
Even when everyone else was gone, Roxanaa nd I were still hand in hand until I boarded the 3am bus for Arequipa.
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