Goodbye Party

This past Sunday the three of us in my town plus the nine volunteers who live in the next town over threw a party for all of our host families as a way to thank them for everything that they have done for us over the past two months. I can't believe that training is over! The first hour and a half of this party was basically a comedy of errors. Apparently we have a lot to learn about throwing a Guatemalan party. We had all of the components we were just unaware that there is a set schedule of events for parties. We didn't realize that the pinata is always first and then food. To try and ease the awkwardness that was all of our host families sitting in two lines staring at each other we tried to get people to eat the chips and drink the soda that we had bought and lugged on the camioneta back to our town this morning. Finally we got people to eat the chips. Then we were waiting for one volunteer to show up with her family and the cake (she finally did an hour and a half late). This is late even for la hora Chapin (Guatemalan time which is not punctual). But then things went smoothly once we got the piñatas going. After the pinatas we ate pizza then cake. All in all it was a nice event and I think that our families really appreciated it. All of the volunteers seemed to form tight bonds with our host families and will be sad to say goodbye to them this Tuesday when we head off to our new site. I know I will be.

Host parents!

Going to miss her so much!

Everyone (including my host mom) loves piñatas