Whew, what a weekend. I can’t believe how easy it is to just pick up and go somewhere. In thirty minutes, Carrie and I had decided to pack up sleeping bags, food, warm clothes, and hitch a bus to the beach to meet up with other assistants and camp for a night on the sand. You can just grab a hammock, a tent, or a sleeping bag, and sleep anywhere, it’s pretty crazy. And with our big group, it’s always great fun, although very little sleep involved and a lot of sand in the hair the next day….but we had a good time of it, swimming in the waves, trying not to get smashed against rocks or thrashed in the water. We sadly didn’t see any sharks. Maybe next time….
So, despite the sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, French music, Reunion still has it’s melange of cultures that I still don’t understand completely….
This weekend is a good example: St Pierre is hosting the huge “dipavali” festival (Diwali in English), a Hindu festival that is considered a festival of lights, or the overcoming of evil. The festival seemed bizarre to me: Indian culture on Reunion Island? But it’s just like those samoussas on the streets, or those Hindu temples scattered around the island, bright and impossible not to notice.
So we were able to watch the Indian dancing, celebrating Krishna, an important deity, with Rukmini, his first and most important wife. Lots of bright colors, loud music, and of course, spicy and delicious food. Too bad Carrie and I were way too exhausted to stay for the fireworks tonight. Early to bed for me….more creole food tomorrow! This time I’m going to learn how to make it myself. 🙂
