I’m not Catholic. That said, being that I just enrolled my three teens in an All Girls Spanish Speaking Colombian Catholic School here in Medellín, Colombia the other day I feel like I have to go along with this religious and cultural experience and fully immerse myself. At least in my most gringa, I don’t speak much Spanish nor know about Catholicism way.
So here’s what I just saw on Facebook. It’s Ash Wednesday and LENT! Which means, among other things, it’s a time to give things up, right?! So I’m scouring my brain and I recall all my Catholic friends giving up things in the past like swearing, chocolate, wine and most recently sugar (cause that one’s REALLY hard). That’s kind of what I thought Lent was about. Following is the most recent experience by the teens at the All Girls Spanish Speaking Colombian Catholic School.
It started this way…my son came home from a field trip yesterday talking about the “Papa” and chanting (which we decided was the rosary) and praying for both our family (thank you) and, he thinks, the Venezuelans – because there are many of them in Medellín. It was then that friends commented that Ash Wednesday would really throw the kids for a loop. Fortunately (or perhaps not) I clued them in (thank you friends!) so they were prepared! (kinda)
So the kids came home from school today, dressed in official uniform, one with ashes, two without. Apparently the Papa spoke for an hour and a half. They then received their ashes from the nuns and proceeded back to class. At this point the girls received help from their friends, making a cross with popsicle sticks and writing two characteristics on it about themselves and one thing they were going to work on. Twerking girl #1 helped them complete the assignment and “other twins” helped them fill out a paper in which they probably weren’t all that truthful. So this is a little different than writing something one is going to GIVE UP but none the less, a beneficial thing (although both chicas are saying they don’t need to REALLY complete the assignment as they aren’t Catholic – to which I say, “oh, Dios Mio!” can you go with it please?”) Apparently no can do!
Liam on the other hand, also received the popsicle sticks by which he missed the cross bit completely and observed everyone making a letter t … yeah, not quite kiddo. Surely he got the cross bit but regardless he was perhaps just bucking the system. Somehow the 20 plus girls in his class failed to fill him in on the details as they were probably too busy playing with his hair which seems to be a regular, somewhat disconcerting experience. Los niños somehow have to hang on to these crosses for the next 40 days – good luck. I somehow sense a late night popsicle dash at the local shopping center on the 39th day in preparation for inspection day – Good Friday.
They also had a piece of paper to fill out in which they had to do an evaluation and decide whether they gave thanks to God, will share their things, help others, be thankful, etc, etc. To which, Kait (her new name) responded “Si, siempre” (yes, always), “Claro”, (of course) “Si”(yes), “Siempre”(always)…you get the point. And now it’s time to insert eye roll…but at least she’s going with it – I guess. Except really not so much since apparently she doesn’t feel compelled to complete the assignment in forty days, she says she’ll just SAY she’s going to…ughh, teens!
So that’s the teen experience here in Medellín. On a similar note – and in an effort to be a part of this experience – today I saw a great suggestion. Let’s give up PLASTIC for Lent. I bet if you try REALLY hard you can! I challenge you (am I allowed to challenge during Lent?) If not, I’m going to anyways because I’m not really Catholic – just trying to go with it for the sake of my three teens at an All Girls Spanish Speaking Colombian Catholic School here in Medellín, Colombia. So, back to Lent and giving things up…Do I need to tell you why you need to stop using those straws? or wrapping everything in cling wrap? or using plastic utensils and then throwing them away? Need I go on? I think you know so I’ll stop here and just put it out there that we can all step it up, Lent or otherwise.
