HG had a grief time again this morning. I emailed HA and asked him to contact my apartment owners/managers and explain to them what happens with HG when she does this. When the cleaning lady came today, she was completely alarmed about hearing HG cry/scream all the way up at the office. Yes, I know it's loud and sounds like I am killing her. I'm not--promise. She is clinging to my neck with both arms, holding tightly to my shirt during this time. I'm not forcing her to stay in my arms. It's her choice. I hope they understand a bit more now and won't think that I'm up to no good here! I am actually a bit surprised that HG is already "going there" with me on this. According to books that you read on adopting older kiddos, this is a time to see if I am going to back away from her, like everyone else in her life has done. So, it's a test of hers for me. Testing our trust together and my commitment to her. I think she is also working through some tough emotions--confusion, happiness, where are "her people," etc. Lots of stuff going on during the wailing. It's a sound unlike anything you have heard before, I think. It's a sound that comes from her toes. It's heartbreaking, really, to hear. Today I just cried along with her.
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On a happier note, today we planned to visit a school group in a town close to where we live with two other families. This is not really a school itself but a group of kids that do a performance and the fees for attending the performance help pay for their schooling. The kids, about 10-15 of them, were between 7 and 11 years old. They did some typical Mayan dances that are done in relation to the planting of the corn, the harvest, and the gratitude for the good harvest. It was really neat. The lighting was really poor as it was a bit rainy outside and so it was dark for photos.
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On a happier note, today we planned to visit a school group in a town close to where we live with two other families. This is not really a school itself but a group of kids that do a performance and the fees for attending the performance help pay for their schooling. The kids, about 10-15 of them, were between 7 and 11 years old. They did some typical Mayan dances that are done in relation to the planting of the corn, the harvest, and the gratitude for the good harvest. It was really neat. The lighting was really poor as it was a bit rainy outside and so it was dark for photos.
This little girl was 7 years old, but she was the size of an average 4 year old. So tiny!
At the end of the final dance, we all got to dance too. HM, HG, and myself did it. HV took the photos!
The kids all wore different traje (pronounces trah-hay)or typical indigenous dress from villages in Guatemala. After the performance, our kids got to put on traje. All 3 of my beauties did it. This is the first time that HV has ever agreed to do it and was delighted that the huipil (shirt/blouse pronounces like wee-peel) that they gave her to wear had cats on it! Don't they look beautiful? HV said that the corte (skirt) was rather heavy. I picked up HG and I agree--she seemed to be hiding in all of that fabric.
HM was one of the first ones dressed. She loves playing dress up and so this was right up her alley.
Cheese! HG was reluctant at first to put this on, but she did fine after I helped her instead of the coordinator and then she got wrapped up in her corte. The corte is actually a long piece of fabric that is wound around the waist (no waist band) and then "cinched" on with another cloth or belt type thing.
Looking so big and grown up!
L (with a visiting family) in the white, boy from the dance group (in black), HG, HM, and HV
L was quite a trooper putting on this get up since he was the only boy in our group
HV looks like a giant to me next to this little girl
Little C agreed to wear the huipil, but that was it! No corte!
Tres hijas (3 daughters) sitting on the bench in their traje
After that, we got to try our hand at making corn tortillas! They had, of course, made some other tortillas that we had with some pasty red beans on them. Yum! It was fun and everyone had a good time.
Lesbia, the coordinator of the group, preparing the maize for the tortillas. Now, this was not something made with a machine but was simply ground on this stone and was solely corn, no flour of any kind. It was different but good.
The tortillas are cooked on the comal or round pan thing on the top of the fire. These two girls were overseeing the cooking with an abuela (grandma) lady
HM and her tortilla
Lesbia giving HV a little help with her tortilla
Eating the finished product! Yum!
HG on the horse swing while the rest of us made tortillas. She enjoyed eating them, of course, with the beans.
we had the BEST time :) little C always seems to struggle with getting the full traje on for some reason. thank you for including our family in all the fun :)
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