28/09/2019 – Volunteering, Easter Island, Chile

We got up and ready for work. Josh finished strimming the garden and I cleaned the bungalows and did laundry. Talk about gender stereotypes! Petra came to us when Peter and his family had gone out and was really upset. Her phone had been dropped in water by one of the girls and it had stopped working. I think she was upset because neither the girls nor the parents apologised. It also means she has to travel around South America on her own without a phone which probably isn’t a wise move. I guess she will have to buy a new phone when on the mainland, but she also lost her cash the other day and her credit card has been hacked and therefore deactivated! After venting for a bit, she went out for the whole day, I think she really is at the end of her tether! She missed the beautiful take-away sushi lunch. Tiare made some accompanying salmon and tuna and some ceviche. It was absolutely delicious and I hope we do that again before we leave! Anabel and Leo put their Rapa Nui dance costumes on and showed us their dance routines on the steps of their house with the Kari Kari album (Rapa Nui music – listen on spotify) playing on the speakers. Tiare is a really talented artist, and made the costumes herself. She showed me her sketch for the next costume she is making Anabel, complete with sewn on shells and beads and feathers! Even the sketch was impressive! I told her about mum making and sewing all my dance stuff for years. It is obvious the girls have been taught the core movements from the day dot – I think the schools and pre schools include it as a way to preserve the Rapa Nui culture. It means they can do intricate hand movements and hip waggles that I don’t think most 3 and 6 year olds would be able to do back home! Josh and I finished work and then I sat with Anabel and helped her make a card to give to Petra to say thank you. Josh hung out with Leo. The girls are absolutely obsessed with Josh and clamber all over him. He often looks at me silently in panic to my amusement! We excused ourselves at about 17:00 and went back to our studio, made dinner, showered and read our books. At about 20:20 we watched the sunset across the ocean from the garden, it was a stunner tonight!