High School Graduation

Yesterday was the high school graduation at the San Francisco Xavier High School in Carmen Pampa. The mayor of Coroico was the guest of honor, who oversaw the handing out of diplomas. Here is Father Freddy, invited to hand out a diploma, flanked my the mayor and his wife.




The president of the PTA Norberta Tintaya, older sister of our recent graduate Saida, and mother of graduate Juan Carlos, spoke about the struggles of raising a child in the countryside, but the great joy of seeing her son, and the other graduates, getting one step closer to their dreams. Many of the graduates will join us at the college next year.




When families don't have much money, they often name padrinos -- literally "godparents" -- for different things. I was asked to be the padrino of the graduation cake. I made 3 small pumpkin cakes, frosted in whipped cream, and Leo Lechtenberg made an incredible arch to connect the cakes on the table.



The graduate, Naty Pajsi, stands with confetti in her hair, put there by the people who came to wish her well. Her guests also pin money to her coat, a small contribution to her future. Naty will join us at the college to study agronomy in 2009.