Today is the day of the dead. I am so glad that I got to be here for it!
We took all the kids from the Casa out to a cemetary where the wife of the guy who runs this place is burried. She died from bone cancer just over a year ago. Seeing the way in which he intereacted with the kids at the site, it was easy to see how much this program means to him. At one point in the morning, all the kids gathered around the grave fence and sang songs and then one by one went in and said a little prayer or something. It was beautiful to witness.
I love the tradion of honoring the dead in this way. All around us, there were families- everyone from babies to grandparents- cleaning the graves, planting flowers, pulling out weeds, re-painting, eating, drinking and visiting with all the others families. They have much respect for the dead, but cemetaries are not a place of mourning or crying. I am sure it happens on an indivudual level, but as a whole, it is a place of community and remembering with joy. I know in the states you could never get away with sitting and eating on someones grave! But here, it is what is done. It is all about the communion with each other and with those who have died. I liked it very much.
We arived in Ayacucho yesterday and are just getting settled in. (I realize it has been a while since I have updated this.... we left Colombia, rode straight through Ecuador and into Peru. We spent 2 days in Trujillo with some friends we made and then got to spend 2 whole days with Joe in Lima! That was amazing and so fun to see where he works and his life there. ) We spent last night in the Casa de los volontarios, but we are moving to a hostel close by. The Casa is really loud (everyone else who is there is a native french speaker!! talk about confusing me!!) and our room was right off the main one with nothing more than a curtain to block the noise. Not good when people like to stay up late and I am tired! Also, the toilet was a hole in the floor and the shower was a hose in the back yard. ...Not saying I couldn´t handle it, but it will be nice to have a quiet space to retreat to after working 6 to 8 hours every day with lots of kids. I know I will need it! And for 150 soles a month, I can handle it (that is roughly 115 USD).
I will hopefully be able to post some pictures soon of where we are living, but it is in a very poor area of town. Dirt, dust and dogs all over the place. But the community is great and I am excited to begin working here. Tomorrow I start working with the Lupes- the 7 mentally retarded children who live at the Casa. They have some incredible stories, you can read them here: http://http//casahogarlosgorriones.org/english/enfants.php as well as see a bit of what we are going to be doing. Mikaela, if you read this, I know you would love it here!
Okay, well I am going to go check on Stacie now. She finally succommed to the travel sickness. I have avoided it so far, but I´m sure that it is closer than I think!
Much Love!
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