What a deck of cards, headlamp, iPod, and two eager girls can create...

My two oldest host sisters and I have developed a fun routine of every night after dinner going to my room and having girl time.

Before explaining the joys of girl time, I must state the rules.  They are:

1) “NO ZAPATOS EN MI CAMA!”,

2) “NO PERROS EN MI CAMA!”,

3) “NO PERROS MOHADO EN MI CAMA”, and

4) “GRITANDO NO ES NECESARIA!”  even when the power goes out (as happens rather frequently during our times together)

After establishing and reminding them of the rules (primarily rule 1… the others are situational (yet all very applicable when the power goes out or the dog escapes from her rooftop abode)), we can begin our time together.  

The time commences by playing cards.  We have a repertoire of about 10 games, but our favorites are “Mentiste!” (BS), “Rapido loco” (Speed for 3 people), “Sandwiches” (Egyptian Ratscrew without card value), “Marcadores” (Spoons… I only had markers on hand when we were learning that one…), and “Via Pescar” (Go Fish).  We play cards for about 45 minutes, mixing up the games and the handicap that the younger one receives.  It is a very heated time for them that reminds me of how much I miss the times when simplicity and repetition were easy to enjoy. 

Then, after the cards, our next step of the girl time process begins – dancing.  We first have to remind ourselves the rules again and add another three…

“NO SALTA EN MI CAMA!”

“NO BAILA EN MI CAMA!”

“APAGA OR ENCENDE LAS LUZ… HACE UNA DECISION!”

 Then, the iPod comes out and the headlamp turns on (sometimes, depending on the decision regarding the lights), and dancing begins.  It’s like magic – the headlamp turns into a spotlight and suddenly the girls are on stage, fulfilling their dreams of becoming a rockstar.  While I have the iPod in my hand positioning the earbuds in the optimal location for total sound, they take turns introducing each other with the ballpoint pen microphone.  Then, the one who was introduced comes out and sings along with Hannah (which goes something like “Yo ma man may wa….” because they don’t actually know the English words (don’t worry, thanks to Google, we have already translated it to Spanish so at least they know what it means)) while rocking out and head banging when it’s not the parts of the song that already have the choreographed dances we made up last week.  The presenter suddenly becomes the audience, sitting on the bed and screaming (quietly with my reinforcement) and grabbing “Hannah’s” hands like an overly eager 10 year old member of the audience.  When the headlamp is on, the presenter also uses it as a strobe, making “Hannah” look really cool.

This routine occurs every night, yet every night I continue to be amazed by the beauty found in the simplicity.  Kids yearn for boundaries and routine, and for these girls, this boundary and routine is becoming something they yearn for and love every night.  It’s also my favorite part of the day (I really enjoy yelling, “NO ZAPATOS EN MI CAMA!” because they find it hilarious… ) and one of my favorite parts of Guatemala. 

 

Maybe we should all become nightly rockstars… I’ll provide the headlamp and music.