Thursday, March 19, 2009

father's day

Father's Day. The day when we celebrate our dads or, here in Bolivia, nuestros papás

Along with Belgium, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Portual, and Spain, Bolivians celebrate Father's Day today, March 19th.  (A google search quickly revealed that March 19th is the feast of St. Joseph, the father of Jesus--so it's not just a random day).

Beatrice Mamani with her dad outside their home on the Altiplano.

UAC-CP graduate Mauricio Colquehuanca with his dad on a trip to Tihuanaco ruins.

Many students told me they don't necessarily have the custom of celebrating this day in the countryside.  "It's not really a day that we celebrate much," one student told me.  "At least, not like Mother's Day!"  My office mates agreed; the gente Boliviana, they saidis more maternalistic. So, Father's Day is often overlooked here.

Fathers of two different UAC-CP students, Jhenny Mamani and Edwin Zapata, see me off at the bus "depot" in Apolo.

Silvia Sevillanos and her dad at their home in Apolo.  Silvia is one of seven children--all girls--three of whom study at the UAC-CP.

Either way, it's important to have a day to think especially of the dads who work so hard to support their sons and daughters.  Not just the fathers of UAC-CP students and graduates, but of our UAC-CP students and graduates who are also fathers.  And, of course, our director, Fr. Freddy.

Father of UAC-CP Nursing graduate, Lucy Cabrera, admires his daughter's diploma.

Happy Father's Day!

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