Buenas yan håfa adai!
Despite uchan (rain) and how manengheng (cold) it was, we finished our 2018 with a cheerful and warm “Håfa Adai” at Balboa Parks December Nights.
We were thankful to share this particular experience with Melissa. Melissa is a student at USC working on a documentary – how the different ways Chamorros abroad keep the culture alive. She also joined us for a couple of our practices.
It was a great opportunity to participate in inafa’maolek with someone who wanted to understand and learn more about her culture. Imahen Taotao Tano’s mission is to do just that – preserve and perpetuate the CHamoru culture. We did our best to pass on our knowledge of dancing, chanting and weaving with her. Melissa – come back anytime!
One night after filming basics and some dancing for her documentary – members gathered around a palm branch to weave and share those skills. We wove katupats (rice pouches), henton ulus (head pieces) and flores (flower). As part of our learning tradition and culture in our guma’, it is these weavings that we will use to adorn our costumes, so that people will be able to see that our customs are still ongoing in the states regardless of our limited resources. My favorite weaving is of a guihan (fish). The neni’s love that one!
Keeping in true CHamoru culture – Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ Auntie Tam for keeping the table with treats so that our tummies were not empty.
2019…we are ready for you, Biba Åñu Nuebu // Happy New Year!