My First Sweet Potato Festival
September is the Sweet Potato Festival. Jenna’s mom asked if we
would like to go and my mom said yes. This will be our first time to check it
out thou it had been going on for years. It is an annual festival held in our
town of different cultures. I heard there’s a lot of activities’ going on this
day. In fact, my classmate told me to bring at least $50 to spend on this
festival. I am not sure how true it is but decided to ask dad $100, which he
immediately gave without fuss. I gave the $80 to mom and kept $20 in my pocket just
in case I get separated. This is my first time and does not know what to expect.
There will be fun rides for the kids and the animals to pet as well. Jenna
mentioned about feeding camel. I have
seen camels but have not got so near like feeding them. What would be camel’s
food, I wonder? Oh, it must be a potato! Sure, there will be lots of potato on
this day, being a sweet potato festival. It makes me wonder what they do with
sweet potato during the festival. Are there sweet potato fries? Maybe, sweet
potatoes for sale at a bulk, for a cheaper price but my mind drifted to all the
rides there is…
It starts at three, according to Jenna’s mom and plans to get
there early. It was already half after 3 when we drive by the place. Mom was
looking for a parking spot at the big space intended for parking. Since this is
our first time, mom did not know where to park. You know, being cautious not to
pay more like in the fair, you have to pay to park whether inside or outside. She went into the parking
area but changed her mind, made a U-turn and park by the roadside instead. It was
good to be early, get a good parking spot by the roadside. We decided to park
across the ground where it was held. At the time, there were few cars already parked
but it’s still pretty much empty. Behind us is a blue sedan, a big gap and
three more cars in different brands. I called my friend’s mom to find out where
they are so we can join them. At the end of the line comes “Hi”, Jenna’s mom
must have expected my mom calling, a pause followed by “We decided to walk to
the ground” is what I hear. Oh ok. I
hang up and waited for them live across the soccer field. It did not take long
for them to show up, their heads pop out of the corner, the kids running as
they cross the street without cars. We got out of the car and followed them.
“I heard that they have Indian dances today.” Jenna’s mom
said as we catch up with them. So they want to watch the dance with a good seat
in the front row. That is the reason they want to be early. I see. Brisk
walking to where the stage is supposed to be, we look around to see if there is
any vacant front row seats. There was no time schedule for when the program
will start and so we waited. The music started with a deafening sound, we kids
covered our ears for we were sitting close to the box. Everyone was startled
with the loud noise and then it was bearable. A guy was up on stage, connecting
all the microphones, came down to where a big guy was turning knobs between
square shape black metal box or are these the sound control box and they talk a
little bit. He went back on stage and tried the other accessories, came back to
the other guy, hand him a CD and went back on stage but haven’t started yet. By
then it was already 4 o’clock. The girls were getting tired of waiting and
hearing the deafening sound, so close to their ears. This is what we get for
setting in the front row!
The weather was fine, a bit sun and a bit cool but having
seated for half an hour with no entertainment, the heat is starting to get to
our skin. You know how it is when you are focusing on the sun because there was
nothing else to focus on in front. My mom saw Jackie, the lady in charge of this
festival and went to ask, “What is going on?” Jackie explained that the guy in
charge was late and so the schedule was off. He has to set it all up before the
program starts. Oh well, I wish to disappear and enjoy the festival but I can’t
because Jenna’s mom wants to watch the performance. Finally, around 4:30, the
first dance performs. We were glad but it was short-lived. After the first
dance, the two guys were back to doing something with the equipment and the
spectators end up waiting again. The music was loud but no presentation to
show. It was irritating but we stayed
for the sake of the dance. After half an hour, a beautiful costume lady came up
the stage to announce the second dance and by then it was already 5 o’clock. It
sucks! The dance went on for 12 minutes or more and I do not enjoy it anymore,
especially it’s in a language I do not understand. While they were dancing, I
noticed some other kids lined up at the right side of the stage. I recognized a
few of them. They are wearing fancy dresses, so colorful, I feel like having
one. They are going to dance next. I would like to watch them dance. I have
seen them before but only seen the last part of the dance for less than a
minute. And we did! It was nice to see them swirling around with their
beautiful dresses. We left afterward so we kids can go for rides.
We went to feed the camel first. I was right! We will be
feeding sweet potatoes to the camel. It cost a dollar to do just that. We got
our tickets and one by one we fed the camel with sweet potatoes. Each of us was
given two small sweet potatoes and as soon as I got close to the fence, the
camel came to check if there’s any sweet potato for him. I assume he is a he. I
do not really know. He was quick to lower his face to me as if he was trained
to do so. One by one we feed him until no more sweet potatoes left. The camel
was so tall, with only one hump. He has dirty brown shade and probably stands
tall to 10 ft. his face is so huge, I feel like he can swallow my whole face
with his mouth. It was scary at first but with my friends around, it gave me a
bit of support knowing if they can do it, so can I. Next, we petted the goats
and pig. One of the goat is male with pointed horn, I was hesitant to get close
to it but Jenna’s older brother Gabriel went to pet the male goat. He was brave
to do that, I suppose. Finally, it is time for rides.
We rush to the line so we can be the first in line but I do
not have tickets yet. Just then Mia passed by, tagging along her little brother
Kyle. Mia used to play in the same soccer team with me and Jenna but we were
never close. She goes to a different school and that is why. Jenna and Gabriel
already went for rides using their day old bracelet from yesterday while I went
with Mia to get a bracelet for unlimited rides. I wasn’t going to get a band
but since Mia is staying with me, I better get one for she has one too. We can
ride together with our unlimited bracelet for $25. Sometimes, Kyle would ride
with us but there are rides he cannot go with us for he is shorter. Melissa
showed me around since she has been to this festival a few times. After a few rides, you can see more people
walking, coming in, some with food on one hand. I watch this ride where it goes
up and drops by surprise, the riders were closing their eyes as if in prayer.
Isn’t it funny that people like to have fun and get scared but wants to go back
again and again on the same ride? I guess, that is just the way people are. The
crowd was getting more crowded at this time. The crowd is not that much yet but
seems like growing every minute as the day creeps to night.
We were standing in line waiting for one ride when I saw my
friend Roma. She is a year older than me but we kind of like each other, being
country girls. We enjoyed our laugh, catch me if you can games and country
life. I have not seen her for months and it was fun to see her again. Wish we
could have a play date. She is really nice. We hug and talk a bit but with the
other friends around, it’s kind of hard to concentrate on her because she
doesn’t want to go on rides. Bummer!!!
“Come on, Roma.” I encourage her but she just won’t. I wonder if she
feels shy with all the other friends I have. Just then I saw Becky on the other
ride. I waved to her and she waved back to me. So many friends I met today, I
feel so blessed. We were all standing – Romy, Becky, me, Mia and Jenny. It’s
like the old time again, like we were in preschool. They were my preschool
buddies and after 6 years we meet again here in sweet p otato festival. There are friends everywhere,
I feel like I was in Hollywood. Hahahah… dreaming moment of my life.
One by one they went home. Jenna first, followed by mia Roma
next and last but not the least was Becky. I was the last one standing. I
stayed with another classmate who is older than me and we went for rides, not
paying attention to hunger and cold. It was getting late, around 8 in the
evening and the weather was changing. But I plan to make the most of my
bracelet until my body can’t stay active anymore because I was hungry and cold.
The last ride I took was the coldest ride I ever had. I came out cold and
wanting to go home. On the way home, I throw up and still feeling dizzy from
the last ride. I had a warm shower as soon as I step in the house, had tea,
blow dried my hair and went to bed early. I was beat up by sweet potato
festival.
The next hour, I felt much better and warmer after a good
warm shower. But I learned a lesson: don’t forget to stay warm.
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