I just got out of a particularly spectacular shower - I think I found the exact centimeter to which I have to turn the knob to get a sprinkle of hot water! My last shower ended abruptly when all of the electricity went out. I was stuck in the dark with increasingly frigid water. That was my fault, because I forgot to turn off my space heater before I started the shower.
Life has been so busy here! Andrea and I are learning how to weave, and we're visiting all of the classes that the house offers. Kristy and Caryn, the volunteers who have been here for the last year, teach English to 1-4 graders at the school by here, and we've basically been following them to everything they do. Today we went to the cooking class, and tomorrow we'll either go to weaving or peluqueria (hairdressing). It's really incredible how affectionate everyone is! When saying hello and goodbye it's customary to hug and kiss everyone, so you really have to be generous with your personal space!
I had some challenging moments today, and of course they involved our beloved Padre Hector, the priest. All 6 of us (volunteers + sisters) were invited to lunch at his house. The lunch was actually really good, apart from the fact that I had to eat meat. He made a big deal out of serving us, and made it clear that we should spread the word that he, the man, had served all of us women our meal. He asked what we had studied at school, so of course when I said Women's Studies we all got into a discussion of feminism. He believes that women should be treated with the same dignity as men and have opportunities, but that women and men have different roles that should be adhered to. Ay dios mio I was so frustrated b/c 1) I don't speak the language well enough to really get into it, 2) I don't know if doing so would be culturally appropriate, 3) I don't want to be alienating people at this early stage, and 4) (a big one) I don't know who and what will be my safe zone here, where I can fully be myself and express everything that I believe without holding back.
On a more positive "holy" note, yesterday we went to the danza circular class. I tried to look this up online so I could find a website that would help me explain this to people, but none that I found did it justice. I am attempting to add a decent link here, but I'm not sure how blogs work so we'll see if it's there:)
Danza circular (circle dance) is basically what it sounds like: people form a circle and do various dances to different music from all around the world. The dances can be meditative or playful or prayerful, but really it was an incredible experience. I felt so in tune with the women around me, with myself, and with the earth. I felt that as we moved, our rhythm carried us, and who knows what energy we were creating. Our collective energy carried our feet, guided our path and pattern. The dances were a way of praying and celebrating through movement and community. As I let myself sink deeper and deeper into the movements and rhythms, releasing my sense of ... self-consciousness... plane of existence.... I don't really know how to put it..., I felt how ancient, how sacred, our dance was. It opened me.
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