Let's Get Hazed!

I just got back from a unique experience in the jungle outside of the Ecuadorian town of Santo Domingo. The anthropology students invited me to their "novetada" which is an initiation/party for incoming students. I decided there was really no better way to bond with some Ecuadorians then to go on a short jaunt to the jungle and it was a good way to see a new part of the country. There was one small catch however. The initiation process is basically what we would call hazing in the U.S.

First they took of the "novatos" (people being initiated) one by one and put us in stuffy, dark storage room, forcing us all to drink a hefty shot of "puntos", the Ecua-version of Everclear. Then we waited in the obscure humidity. After a few minutes they brought each of us a meal of rice and chicken. I was told before hand that I should eat everything that was given to me, I found out later why.

Soon we had all finished eating... but we were stuck in the room waiting... Simply waiting for the unknown was dreadful. One by one they began to take us out of the room. From outside, an occasional protest or outburst from a novato could be heard. My turn came. I went outside of the room and was forced to kneel down and take off my shoes. They bound my hands behind my back and blindfolded my eyes. Then they smeared mud all over my face, shirt, and hair. My nose and mouth were filled with grit. Another person came and lead me (still blindfolded) barefoot down a dirt path in the jungle. He was a friendly chap named Fernando, or so i thought. At the end of the walk he made me kneel in a puddle of mud and smeared more of it on me, then led me to my place around the bonfire.

I could distinguish the sounds of what sounded like people being thrashed by a bundle of plants or small branches. The sound grew nearer and the next thing I knew I was being smacked in the head brusquely with a scratchy plant. Another person came around and gently brushed another herb on my back. Then another, once again hitting me in the face. Then I hear "Abre tu boca" (open your mouth), a water bottle filled with puntos was put to my lips and I was forced to take a gulp. A voice began to recite a ritual more or less... The elements were represented accordingly: water= they drenched us with river water, earth=more dirt in our hair and faces, fire= they picked us up and passed us over the campfire, air= they blew cigarette smoke in our faces, blood= we had to take a bite of a sour fruit (we were lucky, in years passed they used raw cow heart). They spit more of the puntos in our faces and continued to circle beating us with the plants, forcing us to take sips of puntos. Then some of them came around and kissed us, the symbolism of which I still have yet to discern.

Finally, they let us take off our blindfolds and unbind our wrists. Then we all danced into early in the morning. All in all it was a fun ritual to be a part of. I never felt in danger.

Later I was lucky enough to bite the cheek of one of my classmates. His cheeks are so plump I simply could not resist.

All in all, life is going well here.

Besitos,
Maren