We returned from Saraguro on Tuesday evening and all of us were very tired. No rest for the weary though because Emmett's dance troupe had such a busy week. The dance troupe performed at a riverfront park in Zamora on Wednesday night, at Inti Pakari "El Dia de la Familia" fiesta on Friday night and on Saturday night in the city of San Juan. The dance troupe performed at five events in eight days. Emmett had a very busy week with practices in the afternoons and traveling to exhibitions in the evenings. All the dancers had lots of fun despite the busy schedule. Emmett really enjoys his friends and the freedom the late nights bring. The directors of the dance troupe, Patty and Diego, are in their early twenties and very responsible. By the last dance on Saturday night we allowed Emmett to travel on his own without either parent. He returned home at 12:30 in the morning after some non-traditional dancing and partying in San Juan. Emmett's busy dance schedule coincided with a week of "despididos" arranged for us. A despidido is a farewell party. Inti Pakari (Emmett and Annalise's school), Padre Jose and the Catholic sisters, the mission clinic and Emmett's dance troupe each provided a despidido for us to say good-bye. Despididos are part fiesta and part opportunity for everyone to take turns to personally say something about what the person leaving means to them. All of us appreciate the gracious welcome we received by our friends in Guadalupe this year. During our year in Ecuador we experienced a warm embrace by the people of Ecuador, especially the Saraguro people. We are grateful for their hospitality and the opportunity to witness their reverence for their land, devotion to their culture and strength of faith. All of which manifested in fun, frivolity, respect and tenderness.
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| Annalise and Emmett with "Luna", a puppy with a deformed paw that showed up at Inti Pakari school one morning. Angelita and her family adopted Luna. |
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| the candidates for "Madre Simbolo de 2017" at Inti Pakari El Dia de la Familia fiesta |
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| Annalise and her classmates during the evening's dance exhibition |
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| Of course, Kate is the winner of Madre Simbolo of 2017. |
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| Emmett and Diego at a farewell dinner with Diego's family at their home. Diego made the cake. He is a man of many talents: excellent soccer player, organizer of dance troupe and baker. |
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| Annalise's classmates |
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| Emmett swimming in the river at the Inti Pakari despidido |
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| Inti Pakari despidido |
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| Nancy painting Annalise's nails before the dance team despidido |
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| Emmett listening to his friends talk about their friendship with him at his dance team despidido |
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| Alondra and I playing at the Inti Pakari despidido |
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| playing jumping games |
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| Annalise at the Madre Simbolo fiesta in traditional dress before her dance |
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| Yuric and Annalise before their traditional dance |
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| Annalise dancing traditional Saraguro dance with schoolmates |
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| at the Inti Pakari despidido |
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| Leidi, Natalyn and Yuric |
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Kate and Maria at Maria's house where we were invited for dinner. Maria is the mother of Diego, Jorzy, Jecca and Lourdes and Nancy
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