First Rays of the Sun...

So who would have thought to greet the Andean New Year by spending the night on a mountain and welcoming the very first rays of sun of the New Year? Not me. BUT, what an experience it was.
Sorry for the lack of updating this week, but things have been very busy here, plus I have been sick.
Ok, so now for the Andean New Year's experience. The institute where I volunteer had arranged a program to celebrate the Quechua and Amayra New Year. I went to the program which included great food (a type of llama jerkey, tons of varieties of potatoes, cheese, salsas, etc.) that was all cooked in the ground, a sacrificial burning of inanimate objects (this time) representing things they were requesting of Pachamama (or mother earth) for the year to come, music, drinking and dancing of course! Then we hit the road, walking... to a mountain in the very southern part of the city (about a 2 hour walk) then it was a climb up the mountain, to join with about 300 or 400 people with their fires, groups with traditional musical instruments playing and dancing, hot punch to try to keep warm, etc. It was there that we awaited the coming of the New Year. No dropping of a giant disco ball, no countdown, no resolutions and definitely no party hats or blowers. Although there was plenty of handraising, praising of gods, dancing, hugging, and well wishing. The view from the top of the mountain looking down on the whole city of Potosì, the sun rising over the mountain tops, the people in their traditional dress of ponchos, hats, etc. all singing and dancing, and thanking God (mother earth, etc) for the blessing of yet another year was AMAZING. Cold, but AMAZING! Let's just say I spent most of the day Monday sleeping (it was a holiday... birthday of the president or something... go figure). The president, Evo Morales, who by the way, I am convinced is the only president in the world that could make George Bush not look like the most ignorant president alive... he has not only said (in public) that drinking coca cola will give you cancer, but that eating chicken will turn you gay, and most recently stated that the plight of his country is purely the fault of gringos.... hmmmmm....

On a similar note, the police here are something else. Two of my friends almost got taken into custody this past weekend on two seperate occasions for doing ABSOLUTELY nothing. Not only that, but the police were pushing, bullying, and cussing at them while they were simply apoligizing, being very polite, etc. It was CRAZY to see this kind of corrupt police force... made me a little scared.

Yesterday, took a group of guides from my classes on a sort of practical or field trip to one of the mines. It was great to get to put into practice so much of what we've been learning. It was also neat to get to see another mine, meet some more of the workers, and help my students in a more practical way. They were all very excited. It was a difficult climb at times, I was the only female, and the only non-guide... it was really cold, and I was suffering from a nasty flu that I'm pretty sure was founded from a cold that I caught while spending the night on a mountain two nights before! BUT, overall it went really well and I had very happy students!

Have I mentioned that any excuse to party is valid here? I have attended my first one year anniversary of death party, my first candle lit mourning ceremony (like a funeral... only a vigil in the house for three days), a birth (seriously... what was I doing there!), a 10 year old's birthday party, as well as I have been invited to two baptisms for the coming week, and a wedding (on July 4th... should be fun)!
Oh, and today and tomorrow themselves are holidays... "San Juan." The streets are filled with vendors selling hotdogs (yep you heard me right), ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, buns, fireworks, etc. Supposedly everyone used to make bonfires and roast hotdogs tonight and then tomorrow drink all day with their families. BUT, the bonfires have been outlawed (due to concern for the environment) so everyone is up in arms and no one knows what exactly is going to happen tonight. How this religious holiday got turned into a hotdog roast with fireworks is still a mystery to me, but maybe it will become more clear throughout the evening's celebrations.
Ok, gotta get going.
Love and miss you all, KK