Celebrating the 9th anniversary of the Artisan Association in Vice. I wanted to include this picture specifically because I think the height difference is funny. Everyone, believe it or not, is standing. You can also make out some of their products and the delicious cake that we ate to celebrate after singing happy birthday and making speeches.
Some of the women of Vice at the fair in Morroppon. The products in this picture are all make of sea shells. We actually had over S/. 100 or $33 in sales at this fair, the majority of them, surprisingly in my opinion, were from Artesania Marina. I think that the smaller towns that are in the mountains instead of the coast really think the sea shell sculptures are pretty and great adornments for their houses since theyre rare. Its definitely something to consider for the future.
Our stand at the fair in Piura. We were representing 4 organizations so the stand was over packed with products. They definitely need to simplify their displays and hopefully well be able to do that for the fair in Lima coming up in November. You can see the flowers they make, some of the sea shell structures, there is a beautiful rug to the right on the table which I am saving up to buy, and tons of other things.
One of the many processions that pass almost on a daily basis directly outside of my house. This one is to celebrate Senor Cautivo which is a Catholic religious celebration in Peru. We had a holiday and everyone wore purple. I have not been able to figure out what cautivo in this sense meanse in English. Another example of my constant confusion.
Susan and I hanging out at Madelines.
The sunset in El Faique over the Andes mountains. My site looks nothing like this.
The artisans at Vinces workshop presenting their promotional materials after my charla. They have brochures, a business card, and a sign to represent their association at fairs.
The director or the primary school and the vice-mayor (even though you cant see him) breaking hte bottle of champagne with a hammer to inaugurate the bathrooms.
The graves of my host dads father and his parents during velaciones. Velaciones is a tradition that is extremely prevalent in communities of Bajo Piura. On the nights of November 1 and 2 the entire community goes to the cemetery and lights candles and brings flowers and sleeps there. They do this to remember their family members who have died and honor them.
Most people set up tents like this one to block the wind and be able to sleep. It was like a fair in the cemetery. People had set up makeshift restuarants (I had some delicious chicken soup and tea), the teenagers were all sitting around together in the middle of the cemetery and people visited each other at their families locations.
After I got over the creepiness of the whole thing I realized what a beautiful tradition this is. All of the little kids were climbing over the tombs and just having a grand old time. And they also know who every single person is from their family who is buried there. Its a great way to keep family memories alive and to really reflect on the people who have made our lives what they are. Our Memorial Day looks pretty pathetic next to the Peruvian version of the celebration of generations of family.
Of course I couldnt miss out on the fun. There is a first time for everything - Book your plane ticket now and you too can sleep in Vices cemetery in November 2010!!
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