The Sowing of the Maize - 16th September 2010

This story is best told by Marleni, the tutor of 'Las Chaskas' Boarding House:

"A recent story that I remember most and that had an impact on me was Thursday 16 September, when we went to sow the maize in the land of the Immaculate Virgin which in recent years, we have been allowed to use. On the Wednesday they were restless and very enthusiastic. They were thinking about what time they will wake up, what time they will go, what they will take… Alone they prepared the chicha and made the preparations for lunch. On Thursday, they got up at 2:00am, they bathed and they did their hair. All of them dressed in [traditional] skirts and made the plats in their hair. They also demanded that I wear a skirt because they said that it is a lack of respect to go to the sowing of the maize in trousers. It was surprising, even Rosita, Flor de Violeta and Fiorela who are always the last ones to get up, their hair was well-done and so were their beds.

They ate breakfast at 5:00am and then they cleaned up as normal. They got everything ready to take: the chicha, the beans, the cups, the plates… etc. They also prepared the guinea pigs for the worker who manages the bulls. They would have liked to go at seven in the morning but we had to wait for the teacher Rocio to arrive at 8.00am. It was a spectacular day."