I Am, Therefore I Dance

Today's school sponsored post-class activity: Salsa Dancing...
How could I say "no?"

I have a long (though somewhat not-so-well-known) history of pretending to be a dancer. I was half-way to a dance minor at BYU before I decided that 2 minors (Film and English) were enough (not to mention almost getting a Korean minor as well).

Anyhow, point is - I've done some dancing in my day... but never Salsa. Now, lest you think one free group-lesson taught me anything, let me disuade you from your lofty plans to market me with those VonTrapp family singers. I have a long way to go, but it was still a fun afternoon activity (and a great opportunity to put the Spanish to use). The instructor rambled on about 8-counts and such in Spanish and (for the most part) I kept up. Granted, I probably would have done fine without ANY Spanish, but still...

Fun times... I think I'll go again.

And yes, like all dance clases... It was 2/3 women and 1/3 men. No complaints here (except for those regarding that freakish Sweedish chica and that really abrasive 60+ year old Americano - who couldn't dance to save his life).

The Church of the Final Days

I'm Mormon* and I like to go to church (even when I'm on vacation). In most countries I've vistied, I usually flip throught the phone book and find the listing for the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (or it's equivalent) and give them a call). In most countries this is actually pretty easy (Mexico, Germany, Spain, Canada... even France).

Well, phonebooks are not common here. (I have yet to see one.)

Luckily though, Kathryn drew me a map to the approximate location of the church back in LA. So, on Friday - I went searching, so that I'd know where to go on Sunday. I was also hoping to find the meeting times posted, since I forgot to ask Kathryn for that important detail.

Anyhow, I wandered up to where I thought the church should be and I didn't see anything like a church. So, using my recently mastered Spanish I asked a man (with his wife and daughter) who were loading up on a moped, "Do you know where the Church of Jesus Christ of the Final Days is?" A poor translation to be sure, but I figured I was in the right part of the city so they'd have to know it. Nope.

So they drove off and I kept walking (back the way I'd come, because I was pretty sure I'd gone too far). Then to my surprise a few minutes later, he comes zooming up (with family still on the moped) and says he checked up one road and it's not up there either.

I'm thinkin, "Hey dude - thanks for the effort, but I didn't mean to put you out of your way. I'm sure I'll find it, so don't worry about it. Thanks for you help."

I said, "Está bein."

We smiled, he said other random stuff. I told him I didn't know what the heck he was saying (ie I said, "No comprendo.) and he rode off laughing and looking worried at the same time.

A few minutes later, he's back... My first thought was, "Oh my gosh, I've ruined this family's evening and now they feel obligated to keep checking up on this lost gringo." But, to my surprise, they had found it "The Church of the Saints of the Latter-days." Ah yes, I'd forgotten the "Saints" part in my initial query (not that that would have made any difference).

He pointed down the street at a yellow building in the distance and said that it was the church I sought. He was so happy (as was I)!

So I started walking over to the building to confirm his suggestion and see if there were times posted. Upon ariving, I saw the all-familiar old-school LDS logo on the building with the words "la Iglesia de Jesus Christo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias."

And then, look who comes riding up on the moped - the happy man and his family. He's giddy that I've found my church! What can I say besides, "Gracias?"

Eventually we parted ways, but I was impressed by his willingness to drive up and down all these streets looking for the church for me and save me all the time and effort. This would not have been the case in, some other places I've been.

When I got to church on Sunday, I ran into another American (Tyler) who had just come from Costa Rica and he gave me various tips on what to see/do there. I asked him how HE found the church. He said he just asked people where the "Mormons" were and that "everyone knows the 'Mormons.'"

Dur! I should have know...

*Just use the word that people understand (here or in the US). Yeah, "Mormon" is a nick name, but so what... People know what it means. THEN, if they care - go ahead and explain the full name and it's meaning.

Processionals

I planned this trip so that I would be here in Antigua at just this time of year: Lent. This is the biggest festivalof the year for Antigua (and I suppose the whole Christian world, but Antigua isn't screwing around). They have parades (you can't really call them that... "Processionals") every Saturday / Sunday from now until Easter. And really, "parade" is soooo an understatement. Today's processional started at noon and goes until 11:30 tonight. Yes, that's ELEVEN hours+. And next week's runs from 7 am to 11 pm...

Now, lest you think this is just a few high school bands marching through the streets and the local Brownie Troop meandering down the road next to a unicycling clown, it's not THAT kind of parade at all. This is a religious tradition started (I think) in Seville Spain (and they still do it there - even bigger than here).

The Spaniards who settled (er, conquered) Guatemala 500+ years ago brought the tradition with them and it lives on in Antigua (and to a much smaller degree in a few other places in Guatemala as well). Key to the processionals are large floats/statues (I don't know what to call them) signifying Christ, the Virgin Mary, etc...

I've only seen one Processional so far (I'm going to today's later this evening), but it was amazing... Luckily, it doesn't take 12 hours to see it, since it passes by in fairly short time and you're down. Then, it continues on throughout the city. The one yesterday was the kids' Processional. Yup, kids doing all the walking, etc... Now, this may not seem all that strange (kids are always in parades in the US), but you have to remember that they're carrying the big religious floats / kid-sized though they may be (carrying... they don't go on cars, bikes, or other wheeled vehicles... the people - in this case, children - carry them).

So, imagine - if you can - 14 young girls carrying a "float" of the Virgin Mary that likely weighs more than 1000 lbs. Or 14 boys carring a "float" with a representation of Chist on top. No helium here!

Now you say, "What's the point of carrying these massive objects down the street all day?" Honestly, I don't know the exact rational of those who started it all hundreds of years ago, but I think it hs something to do with showing appreciation for the Savior's willingness to carry our burdens or giving of one's self as a symbolic acceptance of all He gave.

At first - I thought it all a bit strange, but yesterday as I watched the kids (and their parents on the sidewalks watching) I started to catch the vision of this community-wide event to commemorate their collective belief and appreciation for their religion, their God, and their Savior.

Now, I realize that once something gets this big, there are likely some people doing it simply because it's "fun" or "memorable" or because there's nothing else to "do" on a Saturday in March... but that doesn't change the fact that it, at its heart, a celebration and a reminder of the gospel and of Christ. And that's a good thing.

Now, the "carpet" comment from the tour guide... "everybody likes to make carpets for Jesus." Along the route of the processional, people make hand-made "carpets" out of plants, colored saw-dust, and other perishable materials. They spend hours making them, and they finish the final touches only moments before the processional passes by. Then, their hours of hard-work are destoryed in mere minute as the carriers and watchers make their way by. So again the question, "What's the point of making such a beautiful composition, just to have it moments-thereafter destoyed?"

And I'm guessing the answers are something to the effect of: Give al you can. Do as much as you can. Spare no effort. Christ is coming this way (even if only symbolically), so make it as beautiful as possible.

Anyhow, I'll probably understand this all a lot better by April 8th (easter), but that's enough for now.

Contacting Dave

One thing I forgot to do when I left town was to turn off my cell phone. Wooops. Now THAT's a monthly charge I don't need!

Anyhow, I used Skype and made my first-ever internaional call the internet to verizon and that phone is 'no longer.' Actually, it's on hold, so (in theory) I'll have the same number when I return.

Anyhow, my point - if you called recently (a call which I obviously didn't answer) and left a message... it's gone forever.

However, if you're THAT anxious to find me while I'm traveling, my email address is still broadbent@byu.net and I occasionally appear on Microsoft Live as zebostoneleigh@yahoo.com and on Skype as zebostoneleigh. Who knows, if you login and stare at your screen long enough (and wish hard enough), I might just show up!