Wawas and Perritos Chiquitos (Que Más) Toddlers and Little Puppies

Wawas and Perritos Chiquitos (Que Más)

Toddlers and Little Puppies

Usually, on Sunday afternoons we go and visit my abuelos in Mitad del Mundo. During the previous administration the number of cars driving the city streets augmented from 150,000 to 450,000. The current Correa administration has just passed a law banning certain types of autos from driving the road with the exception of the commuting hours during weekdays. Unfortunately, both my parents’ cars fall within the restriction, so papayó comes to pick us up.

My mamí’s brother, wife, and 4 year-old son in addition to my mamí’s sister, Kati, live with my abuelos in their modest hacienda style home, so; needless to say, it’s always a family affair.

Papayó usually takes me on an adventure. Last time we ventured to the church where he was baptized which was very special. We arrived just in time to hear the sermon which was powerfully projected from an altar with a depiction of Jesus on the cross hand carved in the base of a single tree trunk. The sanctuary was so full that people overflowed into the streets gathering at the entrances and lining the curb in order to hear the Good News. Outside the gates, florists were selling long stemmed roses to adorn the gothic tombs and street carts where vending empanadas, fruits, and tostados which, of course, made me think of another biblical reference.

After the church service, we traveled to La Reserve Geobotánica Pululahua where the immense, volcanic crater from the extinct Pululahua now lies. According to papayó the crater was formed in ancient times from a massive eruption and subsequent cave in. The fertile, volcanic soil for agriculture was apparent in quilt like fashion from the mirador viewpoint far above. A tiny, rock trail winds down the south east side as the sole entry point revealing the seclusion of the crater’s steep walls.

We returned just in enough time to break up a little tussle between Bequí and Alejandro on the swing set and to be dictated a shopping list. We went to a little whole-in-the-wall store labeled Tias. The shelves appeared to be ransacked and groceries were piled chaotically cluttering the isles. Papayó whispered, “This is where poor people like me shop.” It was essentially a Dollar Store. As we filled the cart with all Bequí’s favorite cookies, juices, and boxes of milk, I explained my fascinating love for thrift stores, Goodwill’s, and Dollar Trees. We walked two blocks and bought a carton of eggs from the tailgate of a rusty F150 and then headed to the weekend farmer’s market. Papayó headed straight for certain stands and chatted friendlily with the vendors. He introduced me proudly. Before I knew it we were half way through my life story and how a gringita came to live with his daughter and I was taste testing complimentary claudios, mangos, and oradillas. We filled a burlap sack full of exotic fruits, avocados, tomatoes, and bunches of cilantro for a grand total of almost 5 dollars. When we stopped for a bushel of potatoes and yuccas, papayó bought me an espomija which is like fluffy cotton candy flavored whip cream in an ice cream cone. I felt just like his granddaughter who he insists on spoiling. The market scene was quite vivacious and yes, the chickens were still strutting about and most of the seafood was still crawling atop sweltering ice.

When we got home, we enjoyed a delicious meal of rice, fried plantains, lentils, and chicken empanadas which Mamí Favi (my abuela) had prepared. After we ate, the wawas discovered Nana’s puppies. Wawa is the word used to describe children, babies, toddlers, or just little people in general. It derives its origin from the indigenous language of Quichua which has completely infiltrated the Spanish language here in Ecuador, so much so, that sometimes it can be difficult to decode the conversation. Wawa is one of my favorites and is thrown out around my household on a regular basis.

The wawas had a blast playing with the puppies. Alej squished his poor puppy to the ground and proceeded to drive him around like a hot wheels car and Bequí was making hers carsick by chauffeuring it around in circles in the basket of her bike. Obviously, I failed in my explanation of how the puppies aren’t juguetes (toys), sorry PIDA. So the foundation of my life here in Ecuador centers around wawas and perritos chiquitos (puppies), what could possible bring about more joy.