Cultural Activities

Last night we got to attend a truly cultural experience. The local school in this village was having a festival as a fund raiser and we were all invited to attend. The girls fell asleep briefly on the bus ride back from the ziplines and were in decent moods so we let them skip naps and headed up after lunch. They started with horse races in which they hung a rope across the road with three small rings clipped on. You could place a bid on a horse and they would call your name and the horse and the rider would attempt to ride quickly under the rope and spear the ring on a little stick. It was amazing to watch the agility and speed at which they did this. They missed a lot more than they succeeded but they were amazing. Especially the small boys who played. After this they had a contest to climb to the top of a greased wooden pole to retrieve some colonnes (their currency). No one was able to do this but it was hilarious to watch. We got to get a slice of pizza and a brownie to which Whitney replied, "Now that is more like it!" I don't think she appreciates the rice and beans three meals a day. We got to watch a presentation the school kids did in which they performed English songs and plays. I really don't understand why it was all in English but brings some interesting questions I have been searching for answers to. I thought at first it was an English school or bilingual but it isn't. They learned these things for the fundraiser. Next we played Bingo and after 27 long rounds, we didn't walk away with a prize. Whitney was very upset but it was a good chance to learn life lessons. After Bingo they were having a community dance. We had planned on staying for a little of it but at 8:30 we had pushed the girls all we could push them without naps and meltdown mode began. We ended up carrying two crying girls on our shoulders for the fifteen minute walk back to campus. When we got back to the room they were different kids and laughing. Think they are having some culture adjustments and just were overwhelmed and tired. Whitney is really having a hard time not being able to talk to any of the kids here beyond the basic phrases she has learned. They will come and start talking to her and she is clueless. I know how she feels! The language barrier is such a strong one. We are trying to learn some but it is hard with the little exposure we have to locals. We are still mostly surrounded by American college students on a daily basis. It was fun to see how their community works and how involved everyone seems! So thankful we had the opportunity to have another small window into their lives.