Laura's birthday was a big success. She had a great time and so did her guests. Fany went nuts with the decorations. Many of her family members sent money and others sent chairs, flowers, even a tent. The party turned out to be extravagant. Especially since the original plan was to just have a homemade cake. I am starting to see a pattern now. Small plans turn into big events with Fany at the helm.
The adults ate Fany's famous tacos. Kids had pizza from Little Caesars. Then we played musical chairs. Most of the kids had never played before. One child who has played before started out by saying that the person who doesn't have a chair when the music stops is a loser. Laura said, "It doesn't matter if you win or lose. What matters is that you participate." That had to come straight from her teacher's mouth. It was funny. In the end, the child who didn't get a chair in the first round walked away crying because she lost. But the rest had fun. I remember that was a stressful game to me as a kid. I didn't necessarily enjoy it.
Pin the nose on the clown was much more relaxed. Last year we had parents who kept coaching their kids, trying to get their child to win. But this year the parents stayed out of it and Laura also made a rule that you had to put the nose where your hand first landed - you couldn't feel around. So the game went well.
Then we had a piñata. It was a big purse, which was unique and cute. I am not a fan of piñatas. The combination of a kid swinging a bat while others are diving for candy makes me anxious. But every birthday party has to have a piñata. No injuries were sustained and the kids had a good time.
Then they all changed into princess dresses and came outside to dance. One of the mothers got really uncomfortable. She told her daughter not to dance and told Fany that Fany will have to go to church tomorrow and put herself right with God for allowing the kids to dance.
But the same mother happens to be the sister-in-law of Laura's teacher. Laura's teacher stood up, turned on her phone, and played the music for a choreographed dance she had taught the kids at school. It was super cute and it was a Christian song - although I don't know if anyone else was aware of that because the words were all in English.
The daughter danced and they all had a good time. I don't know if they are repenting in church today. I'm not a big dancer, but I'm glad my church does not discourage dancing. In fact they all dance more than I do at church. I like seeing that side of some of my friends who are normally very serious and restrained.
We cut the cake but nobody ate it. It wasn't very good. There were plates full of cake left on every table. The pieces were small but people only ate a few bites, said how amazing it was, and left the rest. I hope Fany chooses a different option next year. Even Laura, who is literally obsessed with cake, didn't eat her cake.
It drives me nuts that people always want a cake from Pricesmart (Costco). Cakes from Pricesmart a like a status symbol. People think they are good because Pricesmart sells North American products. They think the same way about Walmart. Walmart here has really crappy quality stuff for double the price that you would pay in a Honduran store. But people flock to Walmart because it's a North American chain.
Laura forgot all about her presents until after the guests left. Fany called me over so she could have someone around as she opened them. She got a little cart with cooking utensils, a doll, a pretty shirt, earrings, and a dress. She was grateful for the gifts and hugged the cooking cart that her best friend from school gave her.
Last night as Fany and I took down all of the decorations it was so cold I had on a winter coat, hat and scarf. Today the sun is out, but the wind is still cold. Jetty's asthma is acting up.
Here is a photo of me receiving my certificate from the masters level psychology class I completed last week. The lady on the right was the teacher. She was super cool. She is a psychologist who works with kids in jail but she also does a lot of stuff for the government. She has to use false names and her own kids had to move out of her house for safety. When she is in Honduras she is able to relax, but when she is in her own country (Argentina) she travels with bodyguards all of the time.
Did you know in Argentina you work for six years and every seventh year you get a full year off? If you work in a high stress job like this woman does, you can take up to two years off. Many people use this for family planning.
She said that she is not good at taking a year off. She has never taken the complete year before. But in 2017 she said she is going to do NOTHING. She is going to sleep until noon and read books all day. After getting to know her I wonder how long that will last. I'm guessing a week.
