Spangfikilish

10/18/11

            Last night I was trying to fall asleep, when Haley, Michele, and their entire homestay family traipsed into the house in a dust cloud of mayhem. I stumbled out of bed to see what was going on, and found Carolina painting them with the traditional Tsatchilla stripes.  They had asked their host mother to get it done, but she had to take them to Carolina because only members of the Shaman’s family can do the paining. Of course, once I showed up I was offered stripes as well, which was an offer I couldn’t refuse.  So now I have black lines on my face, arms, legs, and feet. Carolina said they last for twelve days, so I’m a little worried I might show up to my homestay family in China looking a bit odd. Oh well, how many people can say they’ve experienced this? Anyway, she used a mushed up plant, and when she first painted us you could barely see it at all. When I woke up this morning, needless to say I was a little shocked. I sort of feel like I let someone draw on my face with permanent marker… But all in the name of cultural exchange!

            I had a good day at work today. We were accompanied by twelve big strong Ecuadorian Military Men, and they carried our heavy baskets of trees for us.  Carrying that basket of trees is currently the bane of my existence. They were so helpful, that we ran out of trees early. To pass the time waiting for the truck, we devised a game of throwing stakes like spears at a rock target. It’s so weird to think that while my high school classmates were probably enjoying “Boozeday Tuesday,” I was in the middle of an Ecuadorian jungle throwing spears with truck driver named Umberto. I’m not saying that one is superior to another; it’s just so completely different!

After work we helped Alejandro and his sons (Danny and Sandro) pick up trash around the community. Although I’ve never quite understood picking up other people’s trash, it was a nice chance to speak with the boys, as I’ve always wondered if Danny is married, or just really close with his sister. It turns out that Danny is fourteen, and has been married for five months to Lupita, who is fifteen. They dated for a whole year before they were married. Here’s the thing I find really upsetting: the poor newlyweds are sharing a one-room house with Danny’s older brother Sandro (who is unmarried and sixteen.) Or is it that poor Sandro is sharing a one-room house with the newlyweds? Either way, that sounds like a fun situation…

I came home to find Carolina in the middle of a small construction site. It took me awhile to understand, but I eventually learned that she is singlehandedly building a chicken coup. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

During my Skyping extravaganza in Banos, many people asked how communication is going with my homestay family (whose Spanish is only slightly better than mine.) We’re getting by, with a mixture of acting things out, and speaking what I call “Spangfikilish.” I’m sure someday I will refer to a cat as a “mishu” while trying to speak Spanish, and my audience will come to the conclusion that I am insane.

Speaking of insane… I know I spent a considerable amount of time ranting about Machete Freddy in a previous post, but I’m beginning to see him for the comic relief that he is. Yesterday he nearly died climbing a mandarin tree to pick us all a snack. He also decided he was going to try to use a digger to pole-vault over a barbed-wire fence. Of course, he fell straight on it. When I stop taking things so darn seriously, I can almost appreciate his presence.  For example, when he showed up to work with the military men today, he was wearing a knock-off military camo.  Need I say more?

Love,

Katherine