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Promotion in Betania

With all the travelling between Pucallpa and other places I got to spend some time in Pucallpa and got a taste of the nightlife with Betto and Douglas and a girlfriend of theirs. We went out clubbing one night. It was the middle of the week so the club was virtually empty. I did not mind since it meant more space for dancing.

We headed back for Betania since was missing the peace of the centre very much and had to attend another promotion.

The event started ñlate since Africa and Peru have one thing in common. A sense of time. We waited in a bar acrss the road from the school. Yes, Betania have bars and a church. It seems to me that no matter where in the world you travel you are always guaranteed to find a bar and a church. 

I did not quite realise what I had let myself in for when I agreed to be the godmother for this promotion. It is a promotion for students finishing secondary school and the equivalent of a graduation ceremony combied with a matric farewell. Being the godmother involves the following (which your not told about until it actually has to happen):Posing for the group photo that is affixed to their certificates and a very prominent part of the certificate I may add. When I am in the jungle I am not really groomed for important photos like this and as such the poor kids have someone resembling a medieval witch on their photo for properity. Sigh...

Another aspect of being godmother is that the entire event was named after me and my name printed on their certificates as well - The name of the ceremony ¨Promocion Biri Kate 2006¨. I had to sit in front for the whole ceremony, smile wave, hand out certificates and make a speech. It was in broken Spanish, so I gave up and spoke English. Naturally no one understood I said but they wanted a speech so they got one.

I also had to toast the ceremony with the president of the community. Ths involved alcohol which I am not permitted to drink right now with my apprenticeship. Furthermore, I had to hand out certificates, pose for a million photos and dance with some important educational person to open the dance floor along with the graduates and their partners. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be required to waltz in the the jungle. Fortunately Angel was my partner for the evening since he represented Pedro as the godfather for the evening. At least he translated for me when I was required to do something. Earlier warning of all of this would have been nice. But they told me that they think of me as a shipibo and not as a foreigner so they automatically assume that I know the procedures. The thought is very heart warming but I really do need a bit of info in advance.

The graduation was held in one of the classrooms that does not have walls. It was raining quite a bit in the day so they enclosed the room with zinc sheets. It looked very much like a shebeen in Soweto. The female graduates were dressed in evening gowns and the men in ties. The event was also attended by special guests from the community and family and friends of the graduates.

It was fantastic because I got to dance for  hours and this time around there were many other girls as well. Beer flowed freely (they like beer here. A lot) and everyone had a GREAT time. We danced until 5h00 the next morning just in time to catch the second boat to Pucallpa for another promotion.

Sadly this boat was to full to string my hammock so by the time we got to Pucallpa we were all pretty exhausted. 

And for those of you complaining that there are not enough photos of me, I seem to be in most of the photos of this event, so stop complaining.

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