Some of you may or may not know that i had the wonderful opportunity to co-direct and produce "Los Monólogos De La Vagina" (The Vagina Monologues) here in Guatemala at "El Centro Popular de Cultura Luiz Cardoza" (the cultural center attached to a progressive spanish language school in Quezaltenango). We had 24 women participate from ages 9 to 69. The majority being Guatemalan women with a mix of students and volunteers from around the globe.
I don´t think I knew what I was getting myself into when I was first asked to do the project. The buzz of vaginas soon spread throughout the school and the town. My co-director and I also had the idea of interviewing guatemalan women about their vaginas to include in the show. We traveled to various towns to interview and talk to women. We were a little nervous at first, with our thoughts being that this type of "talk" is "progressive" and "risky" in a conservative culture. But we were wrong and were able to connect and begin dialogues with women in unexpected places. The women really enjoyed talking and we often read monólogos together. One group of women were so inspired by a three hour dialogue and from reading some of the monologues that they rented a mini van to come to the show (they live an hour and a half away from Quezaltenango) My co-director and i decided to write the story of an ex-guerilla who had her first sexual experience with her boss during the civil war. We named it and I quote her "Mi Cuerpo Era Una Revolución" (My body was a revolucion) I have attached the monologue in case you want to practice your spanish. The show was this past Saturday March 1, and it was amazing! We have gotten a lot of positive feedback. We created a stage in the cultural center and set up about 140 chairs. We found this guy "Nati" from Israel who happened to be a light technition to install lights. We filled the center and then some with many people standing where ever they can find space. We raised almost 3,000 quezales for "Nuevos Horizontes" the only women and children´s shelter in Guatemala who have fled violent spouses. Though 3,000 Q is about $400 US dollars, here 400 dollars is more than a teachers salary for a month. To put into context it may be the equal to about $2,500 US dollars.The beautiful part of the project was working with every women and seeing their progress. They were awesome at developing their characters and gave their best. Hearing the audience laugh, pay attention, and listen. I loved working and not feeling like I was working. A truely proud moment for me. I wish many of you could have been there to see it. I will be flying home on March 7 and land in Boston around 11:59pm. I was hoping to do some last minute traveling this week to see Guatemala. I haven´t had the chance becuase I have been busy with this project the past month in a half. But Saturday night I sprained my ankle and now I am stuck in the house. No exciting story about how I sprained my ankle. Yes, i did it walking and fell over one small step in the park. I´m in the middle of saying my good byes, a cliché of bitter sweetness. I "graduated" from the language school this past friday and was blessed with many kind words and thanks for the work I have done at the school. My host family gave me roses and a card at the graduation. My 9 year old host sister told me she is going to break my other ankle so I can´t leave on friday. I will definately miss many people here. Brief update for you all. Words can´t always express....See many of you soon. Attached are some pictures of the show. I´ll leave you with my favorite quote for this week said by my friend, Marissa. "Cristo viene pero la vagina ya esta aquí" (Christ is coming, but the vagina is already here" It may be funnier if you lived here because there is a huge sign at the top of mountain that says "Cristo Viene." Anywho....Much love
I don´t think I knew what I was getting myself into when I was first asked to do the project. The buzz of vaginas soon spread throughout the school and the town. My co-director and I also had the idea of interviewing guatemalan women about their vaginas to include in the show. We traveled to various towns to interview and talk to women. We were a little nervous at first, with our thoughts being that this type of "talk" is "progressive" and "risky" in a conservative culture. But we were wrong and were able to connect and begin dialogues with women in unexpected places. The women really enjoyed talking and we often read monólogos together. One group of women were so inspired by a three hour dialogue and from reading some of the monologues that they rented a mini van to come to the show (they live an hour and a half away from Quezaltenango) My co-director and i decided to write the story of an ex-guerilla who had her first sexual experience with her boss during the civil war. We named it and I quote her "Mi Cuerpo Era Una Revolución" (My body was a revolucion) I have attached the monologue in case you want to practice your spanish. The show was this past Saturday March 1, and it was amazing! We have gotten a lot of positive feedback. We created a stage in the cultural center and set up about 140 chairs. We found this guy "Nati" from Israel who happened to be a light technition to install lights. We filled the center and then some with many people standing where ever they can find space. We raised almost 3,000 quezales for "Nuevos Horizontes" the only women and children´s shelter in Guatemala who have fled violent spouses. Though 3,000 Q is about $400 US dollars, here 400 dollars is more than a teachers salary for a month. To put into context it may be the equal to about $2,500 US dollars.The beautiful part of the project was working with every women and seeing their progress. They were awesome at developing their characters and gave their best. Hearing the audience laugh, pay attention, and listen. I loved working and not feeling like I was working. A truely proud moment for me. I wish many of you could have been there to see it. I will be flying home on March 7 and land in Boston around 11:59pm. I was hoping to do some last minute traveling this week to see Guatemala. I haven´t had the chance becuase I have been busy with this project the past month in a half. But Saturday night I sprained my ankle and now I am stuck in the house. No exciting story about how I sprained my ankle. Yes, i did it walking and fell over one small step in the park. I´m in the middle of saying my good byes, a cliché of bitter sweetness. I "graduated" from the language school this past friday and was blessed with many kind words and thanks for the work I have done at the school. My host family gave me roses and a card at the graduation. My 9 year old host sister told me she is going to break my other ankle so I can´t leave on friday. I will definately miss many people here. Brief update for you all. Words can´t always express....See many of you soon. Attached are some pictures of the show. I´ll leave you with my favorite quote for this week said by my friend, Marissa. "Cristo viene pero la vagina ya esta aquí" (Christ is coming, but the vagina is already here" It may be funnier if you lived here because there is a huge sign at the top of mountain that says "Cristo Viene." Anywho....Much love
