Yeny’s parents, who live in Huancapi, over four hours away by bus, were also able to attend the evening. In fact we had already met her mother, Teresa, and step-father, Adrian, recently when we were invited to share a meal of cuy with them on our way to the Christmas chocolatada in Cayara. We also met Yeny’s five year old daughter, Angie.
So much for the preliminaries and now for the story of the night. This will have to rate as one of my favourite Peruvian stories! However, I must hasten to add that in all the unbelievable disorganisation or seeming chaos it was a wonderful night for Yeny, her parents and her friends. They were so obviously proud to be involved in the celebration.
The formal invitation actually stated when and where the graduation will be held – “Recepciones Koricancha”, 7.00 p.m. Friday 7th January, however, Yeny did say that meeting her at the front door at 8.00 p.m. should be alright!
She missed out badly on the starting time, the first of the Graduands processed in to the tune of something very similar to ‘Rocky’ precisely at 9.31 p.m.!
But before that you must understand that the lighting man was still organising the lights at 7.20 p.m. and the cake lady arranging the cake display around the same time. We found out later that the cakes were plastic decorations – just when I was hoping that there would be enough cake to go around!
The certificates were still being signed by the dignitaries as they arrived…
and the house cat was well and truly banished before the proceedings began.
Would you believe at one stage the official 'music man' even required a change of laptop and extra cable before any form of sound emanated from the speakers! I can assure you that around this time the normally very patient Peruvian crowd began to clap and whistle and even aim some dubious comments at the official party. Nevertheless, the ceremony got under way and the crowd mood subsided.
After the initial speeches each Graduand was called to the front together with their parents and padrino to receive their certificate and be photographed with one or two of the professors.
I was given the honour to escort Yeny for her presentation. Nevertheless, I did get the distinct impression that there were some in the crowd who wondered where this white haired gringo came from!
After all the presentations were completed the Graduands formed a circle with lighted candles for the singing of a special anthem and then the final act of flinging their mortarboards into the air.
The ceremony seemed all over until I quickly realised that the absolute final official act for the evening was the invitation for all the padrinos to come forward and dance with their Graduand. I always had the notion in the back of my head that Yeny would get me onto the dance floor sometime during the evening!
Yeny’s mother Teresa and her step-father, Adrian, proudly stand by Yeny with her certificate for “Enfermera Tecnica”
Another happy group and there are no prizes for guessing who the tall one is!
Yeny, Fernando and Yanet - Yanet also graduated last night and Fernando is a nurse at the clinic and also a member of our English classes.
The evening concluded for Marion and I after a cerveza toast all round and one or two dances, who would hazard a guess as to what time the last guest departed the “Recepciones Koricancha”!
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