This post features student writing.

As we prepare to leave Las Tolas, I figured now is as good of a time as any for a little bit of reflection. The community in Las Tolas is stronger and more emotionally connected than any community I have seen in the United States. We may have some neighbors that are “practically family” and come over to our houses for dinner once a week, but they’re not really family. We only spend leisure time with them, eating, chatting, even celebrating, but usually not much else. In Las Tolas, the only word I can use to fully encompass the community there is family.

Every moment of each of their lives is intertwined with each other. Sure, they may eat and play together, just like neighbors in the United States. But they also work together, experience hardship together. Las Tolas presents itself as a united front against any adversary, whether it be a competing soccer team from a nearby town or a mountain side where a trail needs to be blazed. Las Tolas is an incredible town where people form a web of love in order to support all of its members.

And since we are honorary members for the time being, I decided to speak with a local, Mariana Delgado (who also happens to be the host mom of Leah and Alvaro), to learn a little bit more about the history behind the first annual Fiesta of Las Tolas.

The following is an excerpt of a translated conversation between Sarah and Mariana.

Sarah: So this is the first time the Fiesta of Las Tolas has occurred. Why was this celebration necessary for the community and why did Las Tolas decide to begin this annual celebration at this point in time?

Mariana: The celebration we had last Saturday on July 13, 2019 was created with the idea to celebrate the civic community with a party. We had the idea to do it, so we did. We decided to do this because before this, we only had a religious celebration. So, we took this time in July to celebrate with this party in a way that was something different. We wanted to honor the first inhabitants of the community who created it and thank them for what they’ve done. All the time the leaders of this community are working in order to form the history of this town. And now we can celebrate that history.

Sarah: And do you believe that the parade and party accomplished their goal of celebrating the history of the community here?

Mariana: I think so, I think so. For the first time, I think so because the organizations and school were all here and everyone celebrated together. Everyone was very happy and yeah, we celebrated well.

— Sarah H.