Celebrating a Villages Birthday!
They say birthdays become less important with time, maybe for humans, but not for towns, and certainly not for Oropesa.
This Sunday, the tranquil plaza of Oropesa was unusually packed as people gathered to celebrate the town's 164th year. This is a key event in Oropesa’s calendar, and no one was going to miss it—not even us!
If you are unfamiliar with Oropesa, do not fret! It’s only the capital of bread in Peru and perhaps more notably where Picaflor House is based, a Globalteer after-school programme.
Picaflor House at the Parade
This day also marked the first time Picaflor House took part in the mayor’s parade. The whole team were delighted to be presenting the programme at an official district event. More importantly, the students were so happy to see us as well which made the day even more special.
Now the dress code is always important for these events; I was happy to have dressed appropriately as we arrived off a packed bus to enter the sea of men and women dressed in the black trousers, white blouse and smart sombrero. A real regret to leave the latter behind as the sun came out in full force.
A Place in the Line, A Place for the Community
I’ve grown up in a place where queueing is sewn into our DNA; Britons just love to do it anywhere and anytime. You couldn’t say the same about the people of Oropesa. Luckily Ruth, the school coordinator, took charge and we made it in the nick of time for our turn to walk.
Just before it was time to parade across the square, I got into conversation with a lady behind me. From a farm outside of Oropesa, she wanted to know more about Picaflor House. After explaining our purpose and she eagerly asked me if there would be lessons available to adults at any point. I responded, “maybe in the future”, acknowledging my doubtful smile, she exclaimed "I’m not sure if I will be here in the future, but there is a lot of things I still want to learn". Before I could reply I was pulled quickly into position, yet the conversation stayed with me. Unlike previous generations, children in Oropesa now have access to high-quality after-school education at Picaflor, opening doors to greater opportunities and importantly to a better learning environment.
Celebrations in a typical Cusquenian town!
Foam fights, water balloons, beer, and bread - sounds like the perfect party combination!
After bravely parading past the mayor and town spectators, we headed to the centre of the plaza to join the locals for a beer under the sun. A few beers later, we somehow found ourselves mingling with a lively group of women chatting away in the square. They proudly represented their bakery, one of many in the capital of bread. I suspect, however, that at some point, the beer may have outshined the sacred bread, as they completely missed their turn in the parade. No remorse was shown. Dressed to the nines, they simply continued basking in the sun.
As we parted ways, they sent us off with a complimentary roll of bread: the true gift of the gods here in Oropesa.
In the opposite corner of the square, we found ourselves wound up in a mini foam fight. Children covered from head to toe in foam, hiding from the most dynamic leader with two cans of soap-based ammunition in his hands. For those who don’t know over February and March they celebrate Carnival across South America, the most important ingredient to this celebration in Peru happens to be foam. Try to avoid it, you will always be caught out by a sneaky child or even adult at the ready with their can of foam. On this day under the blazing sun, I didn’t mind a bit of foam to cool me down!
It’s the Community That Matters
As Oropesa faded into the valley behind us, the bus rumbled toward Cusco, our stomachs full of grilled pork, fresh bread, and Cusqueña. I realised the day had never truly been about Oropesa itself but the people who showed up.
Yes, we remembered the town’s legacy: its famous bread, its vast farmlands. Yet more than that, we witnessed a community coming together, honouring their history while shaping what’s to come.
The team at Picaflor House are a small but impactful part of the children’s lives, striving to provide better education and broaden their horizons.
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