A Procession of Lanterns

Well we´ve moved in with the teachers and yesterday was our first day with the kids. In the morning they had a sports lesson and so we went to meet them at the sports ground - a concrete basketball court that doubles as a volleyball court and football pitch. The kids belonging to Seeds of Hope came bounding up to Yuri, one of the Directors and gave him a big hug and kiss, followed by a kiss and a hug for all of his companions, including us. He´s obviously very popular and as his teaching assistants, we are too. We watched the end of the football match and then watched a volleyball game, during which the kids generally climbed all over us and wanted lots of cuddles. They´re really cute and all very well behaved. In the afternoon, they made lanterns which would be used in the early evening to parade through the town in celebration of their school´s anniversary.

We met them later, we met them again as they began their walk through the town. The lanterns were great. They were really well made, with lots of different designs from aeroplanes to rabbits. They all had a candle in the middle and so the lanterns glowed in the dark. There must have been about 70 kids, which made a great procession through the town. Again, the kids were really happy to see us all, especially since we had a camera - which they went mad for!

The next day was a school holiday as it was the national celebration for the Day of the Dead. On this day, the Peruvians take presents and food to their loved ones in the cemetary and have a little party. A little strange for me, but they all certainly seemed to enjoy it!