EcuaChristmas
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2005
1
24
40
Trip End
Ongoing
Bahia de Caraquez,
Ecuador
Monday, December 26, 2005
Talk about feeling far away from home. My night would have ended at fellow volunteer Don Hagan's house that night when we ate with four ecuadorian friends, celebrating Christmas Eve with a nice platter of fish and shrimp. I would have probably went home and went to bed early, except for outside of my apartment door in the patio area there were balloons and streamers, two shoulder high speakers, and my landlord acting as he was in his prime as Bahias mezclador (DJ) as he will tell you repeatedly, working Friday, Saturday and Sunday without sleep, turning records and switching tapes.
It all began the day before Eve, Friday, with a simple invitation to go and witness their childs Catholic baptism
3 a.m.
. Nice of them to include me, ''How welcoming'' were my thoughts, as I have only been living there for a little over a week so I gladly, excitedly accepted. Well after ending dinner early at Don's house, I ran home and got into a taxi with a bunch of other fellows, apparently friends of the family. When we arrived to the Cathedral I was introduced to the family friend, or ''copadre'', financial care-taker to the family if anything happens to Rogelio. From there I was split up from the other friends and this gringo was ushered in with the Rogelio, Pamela, and child in front of a mass of at least 700 on this important Catholic holiday. It was a little nerve racking and I was indeed questioning why I had was chosen to be the witness and go up with the parents.
It all became clear around 2 a.m. after the rum, whiskey, and bad wine was being passed around. I was being called this ''copadre'' word. Uh oh, me!?! Copadre. Noo... ''What, you want to go to the states with me in two years? No I canīt get you a visa''... I think they were joking and drunk when they were talking about this since it hasnīt come up in the last couple of days.
Christmas day was less exciting thankfully. I went across the bay, had a pleasant lunch with a couple other volunteers, and then the next day my dog ran away.
Off to searching for Vaquita.
