This is a picture of the work we did tonight, the beginning framework for a giant turtle. After the bamboo frame is made, the next step is to paper mache it with thin paper. I'm installing lights inside, which will be powered by a car battery and it will light up like a lantern; since next Friday we are having a night parade. I think it will be beautiful.
I worked with three people from the Ami tribe (it's pronounced ah-meice), all over the age of 50, maybe even 60. It was a treat to work with them, such firecrackers. In the Ami tribe, women are dominant and highly regarded, it was amazing to witness this dynamic, since I was working with two women and one man. The men backing off and letting the women use the nail gun---how fantastic. Overall I had a really good time, probably some of the most fun I've had in any workshop previously. People just laughing, but working hard. They picked up how to build so quickly and I was learning from them, incredibly rewarding. Within the first hour, Max (the director of this workshop and translator) told me that they thought I was terrific, the feeling was definitely mutual. I am very much looking forward to working with them again tomorrow night and in the next week.
The float is based on the story, "O'enip pasiutana'ayo pangcnh koren to dateng" ("How the turtle teach Ami tribe to eat wild grass"). A story about a boy whose stepfather thew him off the boat to "get rid of him." But he actually survives and becomes stranded on an island, but then this giant old turtle appears. The turtle watches over him and teaches him how to survive. But the turtle doesn't talk to the boy, he just watches what the turtle eats and how it lives. Years later the turtle finally talks to the boy and tells him to go to the mountain and learn from the monkey, goat and bird, he has nothing else to learn from the turtle and the island. And so he does. About a decade later, the boy desires to reunite with his family, the turtle returns and takes him to his mother. When he comes back to his people, he teaches them everything he learned while he was away and helps the Ami become a stronger people.
My plan for the float will be this giant turtle and tall giant blades of grass behind it, the grass will also be lit underneath. On the turtles neck, we be a real human boy who will be able to move the turtle's head left and right. I am hoping to make the fins of the turtle bounce smoothly with rubber tire. We shall see.
Tonight all the people from the tribe gave me my Ami name, "Aneck" (I am not sure of the spelling, but that is how it sounds). It means a person always working and strong. I think it's a good thing.
