Fiesta Latina

For the past two years we've visited with some of Stephanie's students and their parents and a few of her colleagues at New Albany's Fiesta Latina, held on a Saturday near September 16, Mexican Independence Day. It's a good way for Stephanie to connect with her students and their families - and for the families to share some Latin American culture with Stephanie and her colleagues - in a fun atmosphere outside of class and school. The festival takes places in the parking lot of the St. Mary's church, where Southern IN's Spanish-speaking masses are held. This past spring we reported on the first communion celebration with many of Stephanie's students, also at St. Mary's. Leading the mass there was Father Tom, the Anglo priest who we quip only half seriously is the one who got Stephanie her job. This year we were slated to go with our Guatemalan American friends Carlos, Nora, and Ana. But a pall was cast over the event because Vincent (faced with the reality that his failing grades would prevent us from hosting a Danish exchange student, his former host, Tim) - who has only been to this once - ran away from home some five hours before we were to leave. We picked up the Lara family late - and Nora was still leading a women's group and I felt bad because Ana said her friends were going to a parallel Louisville celebration, outside of Okolona's St. Rita's Catholic Church). But off we went. When we got there, we had not only missed the procession and mass (which were new this year), but also the organized dancing, which we usually catch and which sometimes involves some of Stephanie's students. Pictured above - at our arrival - is M.C. Father Tom. Stephanie soon saw 5th-grader Benji, whom Stephanie has taught since 2nd grade at Mt. Tabor. Benji helped us out throughout the evening and hooked Stephanie up with his cute 2-month-old baby sister, Esmeralda, whom Stephanie got to hold (pictured below and far below).

Although we missed the dancing, I got to take a picture of the dancers (below) posing for other photographers. None of the dancers this year were Stephanie's students, but two were previous year students (now moving on to middle school).

When we arrived, several of Stephanie's colleagues were already there, including Stephanie's principal, Susie, and her husband, New Albany City Council Member Jeff (with whom I talked about the mayor vetoing his smoking ban ordinance), and a 4th grade teacher, Missy, (and her son, Alex) who has taught summer school English as a new language classes with Stephanie (all pictured below).

Susie also talked with some of the students (Perla pictured below). Many of the students were excited to see teachers and administrators from school and to show off their culture and food. They were especially excited to see the teachers actually trying the food. "Do you like it?" was asked often.

In the glasses behind Susie is Carlos (below), our Spanish-language Bible study teacher and student pastor at our church.

In front of Carlos and between Stephanie and Susie (below) is Karen, another of Stephanie's previous students. Stephanie has been teaching long enough that she didn't even recognize some of her previous students until she saw their face.

With his back to us is the guidance counselor at Stephanie's school, Jim (below). The family of one of Stephanie's favorite students, Maria, is selling food - sort of informal economy-like - just like in the streets in Guatemala or Mexico. That's Maria in orange, now a 5th grader, whom Stephanie thought might graduate from ENL - like four of Stephanie's students did over the summer based on their scores on an ENL test Stephanie administered this spring.

There's Maria and her mother (below). I bought grilled corn from them. Maria's family has also made food for previous years' Spring Festival at Fairmont.

Here's Carlos' daughter, Ana (an 11th grader at a Louisville high school and - like her brother - an avid soccer player), and his wife, Nora. Their son, Carlos David, is a sophomore at Warren Wilson College. They came to the U.S. 2 1/2 years ago. Carlos guest-pastored at our church before working for the national Presbyterian Church world mission program for a year. He's now a student at the Presbyterian seminary in Louisville. He was a pastor in Guatemala and a leader in the Guatemala Presbyterian church before they came to Louisville. He has helped us get back in touch by phone with our friends in the Lago Izabal area.

As it got dark, the organizers got out some pinatas and kids tried their hand knocking out the candy - in the street between the church and the parking lot (the street was blocked off).

A DJ played Latin dance music and some people danced. Nora, Carlos, and Ana were patient (after they got to sit down) as Stephanie caught up with her former colleague, Anabel (aide/translator for her for two years) and her fiance (also pictured in "World Fest" - though Stephanie didn't get to talk with them then). Anabel will graduate from Indiana University Southeast in December and the two will get married in Southern Mexico in January. Stephanie - who may get a chance to go back to Guatemala next month - was invited!

Vincent did not call us while we were gone. Although I had not entirely discouraged his departure, we left the door unlocked and the light on while we were gone. He was not home when we got back and - after an anxious night - he was still not there in the morning.

-- Perry