Today we reluctantly got up early in order to be at school by 8 (instead of our 9:30 norm). We figured out it takes a good 20-25 minutes to walk to the bus station from our house. And that there is just as many people in the streets at 7:45 as there are at 8:45, and it's also just as hot.
But we made it to school and good thing we did because Matt was a substitute teacher again for his class, and I did my first art lesson making collages of flowers and soccer balls in mosaic style with a bunch of hyperactive 1st graders.
No, but really the amazing thing was the fiesta we were able to join in on for Dia de la Raza Indigena. October 12th is the day Nicaraguans celebrate their heritage and roots in just opposition to Colombus day, the day before. The party consisted of all the students and ourselves pouring into the preschool room, with traditional music playing on a loud boom box someone carried over from their home. Then, there were 5 female students ranging from 6 to about 14 who were chosen to depict the role of different national muses: musa del sol (muse of the sun), musa del amor (muse of love), musa de la paz (muse of peace), musa del cacao (muse of coco bean), and musa de la naturaleza (muse of nature).
The girls came into the room dressed in many different outfits, with their hair changing magnificently in each one. First they wore their muse garb, which consisted of dresses made out of a rice sacs, head dresses, and even one made with leaves. Secondly, the girls wore traditional dance dresses and each did a solo baile folklorico dance for us. Thirdly, they showed off their sports gear (soccer, baseball, and basketball). And last, the came out in their evening wear (fancy dresses) and then answered a series of questions, some including:
Name 4 traditional Nicaraguan foods: Nacatamales, Gallo Pinto, Baho... can't remember the last. Name 4 traditional Nicaraguan drinks (Chicha de maiz we tried today). Name what our traditional clothes are made from.
Then, at the end of the presentation everyone voted for the new queen of Hispanic heritage for 2010. (Reina de la hispanidad).
The whole ordeal was very beautiful and sweet. What was really impressive is that these people live so humbly, in tin shacks, and come to school in dirty clothes at times, yet today they were done up to the 9. All the moms came over and did the girls hair at school, and brought all the outfits to change them in. It just goes to show the pride they have for their culture and heritage.
Afterwards, Matt and I were really hungry so we busted out our homemade Pb&js and the pan con queso we bought on the bus on our way to school ("pan con quetho" as matt says in imitation of the ladies who yell out in their street while selling their goods. There are many ladies, and even some boys, but they all sound exactly the same so you think it's just one person). Of course just as we finished eating, they brought us out 2 huge plates of Indio Viejo (traditional food made with corn). If you've ever been in a Latin American country, you know there's no turning down an offer once it's been made. So Matt and I had very full food babies for the rest of the afternoon. But it was worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment