This past weekend Edwin's father (a.k.a. Abuelito, "grandfather") and stepmother (Xaan, pronounced "Shah-ahn", meaning "grandmother") came to visit. We were worried that they might be bored in the city, but far from it! Everyone had a wonderful and rich time.
Abuelito and Xaan got to meet their new granddaughter, and they held her lots.
Chely repeatedly launched herself into Xaan's arms or Abuelito's lap. In the evenings she would seek out Xaan and relax in her arms, falling asleep there.
Xaan embroidered a beautiful blouse in the traditional Q'eqchi'* style for Kayalá. She'd made one already for Chely with her Mayan name embroidered into it. Here Chely is wearing her Q'eqchi' outfit while Xaan works on Kayalá's shirt.
[*Q'eqchi' is one of Guatemala's 22 Maya groups, each with its own language and cultural particularites. Edwin is of the K'iche' group, and Xaan is Q'eqchi'.]
Xaan brought a live rooster that she had raised on their land, so on Saturday we enjoyed a delicious meal of organic, free-range, incomparably fresh chicken. Several visitors came to the house over the course of the weekend, and on Sunday we strolled around the local annual "feria" (fair) where we rode on a huge slide and a ferris wheel, played marbles, ran into some friends, and ate fried dough with chocolate syrup (churros con chocolate). Mostly we hung out talking, story-telling, catching up on news from Santa María (their home community), and laughing.
Thank you for blessing us with your presence, Xaan and Abuelito. We love you!
No comments:
Post a Comment