Fiestas!

In the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to attend two fiestas...the 3rd birthday party of my program director's daughter (Carolina), and the birthday of my 3 yr old host nephew's friend. Overall the parties shared a lot of similarities with those in the U.S., with the exception being the pinata. Here, the pinata is absolutely crucial. It's simply not a birthday party without one.

I was more or less an observer at the family friend's party, but yesterday's party for Carolina was another story. Carolina was adopted by my professor and his wife from Guatemala last year. This is their first birthday with her, and they wanted to make it special. Since she doesn't have many friends her age here, we were bribed with free pizza and drinks after the party if we came and participated. It turned out to be a blast...23 college students playing musical chairs and pin the tail on the gato. AND, to really encourage participation, they stuffed the pinata with American candy, brands that we haven't seen for months. Let's just say the stakes were raised as soon as the first peanut butter cup fell out.

The aftermath of pin the tail on the gato.