September 15th was Costa Rican Independence Day. In Spanish class, we learned that at 6 pm all the cars on the road stop, and the drivers get out and sing the national hymn. Not true. But they do hold lantern-lit parades for children the night before, and then the day of the 15th have endless mandatory (through their schools) parades going on for all children who aren't over the age of 20. That seemed to be the age limit, anyways.
Since I didn't have classes the day of, I slept in for the first time in Costa Rica! It was luxurious, and I thought it was noon when I woke up! Nope, only 7:45 am. I don't know whether to be disappointed or proud. The parades were supposed to be at 9 am, and right around the corner from my home in Curridabat, so I slowly ate and made my way over - at the last moment undecided about whether I even wanted to go.
However, I'm glad I did. The amount of energy that Costa Rican students, teachers, and parents put into their Independence Day parades is unreal. Every single school has different batches of costumed students, playing different beats and melodies on their drums and strange hip-xylophones, dancing, marching, and wiggling their hips to different routines. I was there for about three hours, and there seemed to be no end to different age groups and themes passing by. My Spanish teacher told me today that in downtown San José the parades go from 8 am until 4 in the afternoon! So exhausting!
Already one of the best things about the parades though were the side-parades of mothers hustling alongside of their children, proffering candies and juice-boxes and slathering their arms with sunscreen. Teachers as well were wearing their patriotic colors and were clearly extremely involved in the whole production. Which surprised me since most of the routines for little girls were hyper-sexual. One group would put their batons under their butts every other step and wiggle down to the ground and back up with the drums, while another progressed along shaking their chests like they weren't four year olds at all. I don't even know what to say about that, so I won't say anything at all. Especially since it's the schools, not the mothers, who are giving these kids their costumes and teaching them their routines. Not exactly Toddlers in Tiaras material.
Even though I was only outside for a couple hours, I ended up getting a ridiculous sunburn, and dehydrated! But when I got home, lunch was waiting, and I had a wonderful time bonding with both Ana and Rosie. Slowly, I'm getting more and more comfortable making jokes, and telling them unique tidbits about me, and asking more difficult questions. Today over dinner I found out that one of my host-aunts who lives near by has two baby cows! In San José! And that my host dad has "tons" of pigs, somewhere in the country side. I had no idea! Hopefully some farm time will happen soon...but I'll be in Nicaragua all next week, living with another host family and interviewing and exploring n' learning, so it will have to be further in the future!
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