I got back last night from my first Vida Joven camp in the department/district of La Paz. There were about 35 teens who attended from the city of La Paz and with the leaders and support staff; there were about 50 of us altogether. We travelled 3 hours (on a road beyond description :) to a town in the Yungas area called Sorata which is in the more tropical region and stayed at a Catholic Seminary about 15 minutes outside of the town. Words cannot describe the beauty of the area...I keep thinking I've the most beautiful spot in Bolivia and then there's something more. Bolivia is a country absolutley filled with contrasts in so many ways including it's nature.
The theme of the weekend was from the movie: The Ice Age and included a session on caring for the environment amongst other topics and the plenary sessions focused on Moses. It was my first time at a camp for the adolescentes (teens) and it was interesting to see the differences and have a better understanding of them especially thinking of the jovenes (young adults). The attitude of "whatever" or "you can't tell me what to do" has definitely crossed cultures :)
I was one of the councellors for the weekend and belonged to the group, the saber-toothe tigers (think Diego from the movie). On the final night, we had the "cena de gala" or the special dinner and no, I didn't allow anything anyone to do my hair or make-up :) I actually helped do the make-up for a few girls which was a blast and talked to them about looking pretty and natural at the same time. Of course, a few minutes later, I noticed one of the girls getting her friend to add more fushia eye make-up so I don't think at least a few of them are ready to hear about that. :) Plus, there's a definite difference in make-up looks here.
So, the gala ended around 11:30pm and then if the campers wanted to hang out, throw water balloons (think Carnival here...unbelievable amounts of amounts of water and foam spray used all over Bolivia throughout the last few weeks and ending this week...)they had free time to do so. Sometime around 2am I was able to start to sleep when all of a sudden, noise makers were going off right outside our door and scared the living daylights out of me. So, I start thinking that the guys were simply up to some mischief when out of the night, I heard the guys singing. There were seranading us. I didn't understand everything but there were dedications to various girls from certain boys as well as songs sung to the girls in general by the guys. It wasn't anything serious but more of a joke. Those of us who were councellors kept shushing the girls from laughing and calling out comments. So then, all was quiet and I thought ok, we can sleep now but really, what are the chances the girls won't try to sneak out?? I started watching for movement and sure enough, I saw girls starting to get up so I went and told them to get back to bed; that they couldn't go outside. I then received one of those looks that only teenagers can give and was promptly ignored. The head counsellor and female leader, Maria, had been at the doors keeping the guys out (and the girls in) so I went to find out what was going on. When I let her know that I'd told the girls to go back to bed, she looked at me in shock and said no, they have to reciprocate and go seranade the boys. I just looked at her and thought, "where am I??" So, as the girls thought up their songs, Maria told me that this had been going on for decades; that it's a time-honored tradition. I found myself accompanying them to the boys quarters in the building next door and was then told that my job would be to hold the doors closed so that the guys wouldn't be able to get out while the girls sang to them. I must say it was one of the most interesting situations I've found myself in so far since I've been here.
Thanks for the prayers for safety (the 3 hour drive to the seminary was about the craziest I've experienced at this point and it's the new road!) and the thoughts and prayers throughout the weekend. It was great to get to know even a few of the teens and talk with some of the jovenes leaders that I'll be working with in the future...I was able to get a better handle on the possibilities for my work. It was a great and crazy weekend!
The theme of the weekend was from the movie: The Ice Age and included a session on caring for the environment amongst other topics and the plenary sessions focused on Moses. It was my first time at a camp for the adolescentes (teens) and it was interesting to see the differences and have a better understanding of them especially thinking of the jovenes (young adults). The attitude of "whatever" or "you can't tell me what to do" has definitely crossed cultures :)
I was one of the councellors for the weekend and belonged to the group, the saber-toothe tigers (think Diego from the movie). On the final night, we had the "cena de gala" or the special dinner and no, I didn't allow anything anyone to do my hair or make-up :) I actually helped do the make-up for a few girls which was a blast and talked to them about looking pretty and natural at the same time. Of course, a few minutes later, I noticed one of the girls getting her friend to add more fushia eye make-up so I don't think at least a few of them are ready to hear about that. :) Plus, there's a definite difference in make-up looks here.
So, the gala ended around 11:30pm and then if the campers wanted to hang out, throw water balloons (think Carnival here...unbelievable amounts of amounts of water and foam spray used all over Bolivia throughout the last few weeks and ending this week...)they had free time to do so. Sometime around 2am I was able to start to sleep when all of a sudden, noise makers were going off right outside our door and scared the living daylights out of me. So, I start thinking that the guys were simply up to some mischief when out of the night, I heard the guys singing. There were seranading us. I didn't understand everything but there were dedications to various girls from certain boys as well as songs sung to the girls in general by the guys. It wasn't anything serious but more of a joke. Those of us who were councellors kept shushing the girls from laughing and calling out comments. So then, all was quiet and I thought ok, we can sleep now but really, what are the chances the girls won't try to sneak out?? I started watching for movement and sure enough, I saw girls starting to get up so I went and told them to get back to bed; that they couldn't go outside. I then received one of those looks that only teenagers can give and was promptly ignored. The head counsellor and female leader, Maria, had been at the doors keeping the guys out (and the girls in) so I went to find out what was going on. When I let her know that I'd told the girls to go back to bed, she looked at me in shock and said no, they have to reciprocate and go seranade the boys. I just looked at her and thought, "where am I??" So, as the girls thought up their songs, Maria told me that this had been going on for decades; that it's a time-honored tradition. I found myself accompanying them to the boys quarters in the building next door and was then told that my job would be to hold the doors closed so that the guys wouldn't be able to get out while the girls sang to them. I must say it was one of the most interesting situations I've found myself in so far since I've been here.
Thanks for the prayers for safety (the 3 hour drive to the seminary was about the craziest I've experienced at this point and it's the new road!) and the thoughts and prayers throughout the weekend. It was great to get to know even a few of the teens and talk with some of the jovenes leaders that I'll be working with in the future...I was able to get a better handle on the possibilities for my work. It was a great and crazy weekend!
The Saber-Toothe Tigers
'til next time,
rebecca
Sounds like quite the experience. :) Glad you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteKrista