Amazon Spring Traditions

Foam fights during Carnival festivities

 Living in the Amazon region of Ecuador, our family is always deciding to continue traditions from the US culture, or take on new traditions.  In February, we had the celebration of "Carnival" here which involves street festivities and throwing of water and colored foam before the Catholic Lent season begins.  Usually we do not choose to participate, but our boys had vacation from school and our older son was asked to participate in a folkloric dance for our neighborhood in the parade.  So, we braved the foam and water throwing to watch.  Here is a girl in a all out foam fight at the end of the parade route.

Our oldest son (in black) participates in the Carnival parade.

Our beautiful Amazon, day hike on a farm

 One day in March, we went for a hike in the jungle.  Well, it was actually a farm, but involved wading through small rivers and climbing up and down ravines with our boots, avoiding poisonous ants, eating fruit from the trees, and stopping at a farm to have a freshly killed chicken for lunch with local potatoes just dug out of the ground.  It was a strenous hike but a great family activity.  Our daughter took her nap on daddy's back!!

 

Learning to ride on daddies back!!

 In March we had the festivities of our school and I ran in a 5K in the sun.  I found that I am not in the best of shape, but enjoyed being outside and supporting our school.  I read an inspiring book about the culture of Ultra Running before this event (this is an affiliate link and we will be paid a small percentage if you purchase this book through this link):  Born to Run by Christopher McDougal

Running a 5 K with friends in support of our school

Making easter eggs with friends

Making easter eggs

For Easter, we enjoyed attending several church services to talk about the week that Christ died.  On Easter Sunday, we invited some friends for lunch and colored Easter eggs.  This IS NOT an Ecuadorian tradition and I had brought the dye kit from the US.  It was SO much fun and our 4 year old friend had a great time.  We also ate some delicious carrot cake, made by our middle child.  Our two year old has been watching Miss Pattycake Eggstravaganza this week.  As a family, we continue to enjoy both the Ecuadorian culture and our US background to create our own family culture.  I hope that you are also working on creating a family culture of your own!!