September 29, 2006 10:00 PM

What a crazy week! I can’t believe how much stuff was going on in the place this week. First of all, Chrissie, our local coordinator is leaving tomorrow so there is a ton going on at the school to say goodbye. At Muenala yesterday we had a huge fiesta for her. The entire community attended to send her off in style. And Chrissie came to the school wearing the traditional clothes of the indigenous here (see photos) and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. We had a huge feast of local specialties including a drink called chicha, which is very thick, made from corn, and is as difficult to describe as it is to get down. There were also games (including musical chairs and a three-legged race) and dancing. The kids prepared songs, some of the parents gave speeches, and everyone seemed to have a really great time. I’ve only had a few opportunities to interact with my students’ parents, so this day was such a treat for me.

Then today we had a party to celebrate all the birthdays from July, August and September – 12 in total. We set up piñatas, which the kids annihilated, repeated some of the games from yesterday, and introduced them to Pin the Tail on the Donkey. We gave out little gifts to each of the 12 – soccer balls for the boys and wool hats with flowers for the girls. Because celebrating birthdays isn’t really part of the indigenous culture, many of the kids don’t know their birthday (or their age in some cases). As a result we had many asking us when it was their turn to get their present. It was pretty funny trying to explain something that seems so obvious to us, but really quite foreign to them.

As a result of Chrissie’s departure and a new coordinator taking her place (Ben, a Kiwi in whom I have a lot of confidence) there were so many meetings this week. As mentioned in my rant earlier today, we had a meeting last night with all of the volunteers. In addition, on Tuesday there were meetings with each of the individual schools. And on top of that, there were little side meetings here and there to get as much information gathered as possible to facilitate the transition. I am meeting’ed out!

But tomorrow I’m getting out of town with Shadi (we’re now a bit inseparable). We’re going somewhere four hours away by bus (I have no idea in which direction) to attend a community festival benefiting a local school. Shadi was invited by the maid who works in her host family’s house, and I’m tagging along. All I know is that it’s in the country, will involve a lot of dancing, and we’ll be the only Gringas. It should prove to be quite an adventure.