Presents and Packages

Alejandrita getting ready to cut her cake

Today I experienced my first real birthday party here in Orocuina, and I have to say, I am exhausted! It was the birthday party of one of my neighbors and favorite Punta dance instructors, Alejandrita... she turned 9! To celebrate, her family invited friends, relatives, and neighbors to dance and eat cake. The birthday celebrations began for me at 7:30am when I received a call from Alejandrita´s mom asking me to pick up the pans I would be using to bake Tres Leches and Carrot cakes for the party. (Thank you Mom for teaching us how to bake!!) I spent the morning baking with the birthday girl and then helping the family get ready to receive guests at 3pm.

Hanging out for a photo opp with Pepe, the life size piñata
Unfortunately, the day did not end well for Pepe...

As is customary at informal events, the guests began to arrive around 4pm, by 4:30 the piñata was broken, by 5pmcake and dinner were served, and by 6pm we were left with shreds of piñata and blaring reggeaton music. While here it is customary to wait to open presents until all the guests to leave, I was able to stay long enought to see Alejandrita open her new ¨doctor´s kit.¨ Just about every time I come over, we play doctor and having been a big ¨doctor¨ player myself... I put together a small canvas bag with gauze, gloves, bandaids, containers and swabs. The present went over great and I have a feeling I will be taken care of well during the rest of my time here :) At the party I also got a chance to have my first Honduran ¨Cuba Libre,¨ (rum, coke, a bunch of ice, and lime - yum!) and I learned more dance moves from Ishmael, my 70 year old neighbor and Alejandrita´s grandfather- words will not do this man´s dancing ability justice! (He taught me some moves that he said were ¨groseras¨... I have never seen a person that age get down like that- he put grinding highschoolers to shame.)After a full day of cooking, dancing, and celebrating I am not sure who is more tired in this picture!

In addition to making and giving presents, I have recently been the incredibly appreciative recipient of a PACKAGE!!! The other day I was called downstairs to see Victor the mail man waiting with his notebook for me to sign. I was so excited to receive my first package since returning and I was even more excited when I saw what was inside! Thanks so much Kathy for a great package! I love the new additions to my place, and the trail mix is a true treat! Thank you for thinking of me!