Defining Spaces

Abstract

On Friday, at the beginning of the Retreat, the children gathered in the church to prepare for the experience with hymns and religious instruction. Fathers and mothers, meanwhile, brought their luggage, which had been packed in the morning without the knowledge of the children, to the site of the Retreat. For each participant, there was a mat to sleep on, a lavalava (wrap-around skirt) or a thu (men’s loincloth) for the evening and one for the next day, shampoo, soap, a pillow, song books, a container of fresh water to shower, a few betel nuts with lime, pepper leaves and small pieces of cigarettes, a festive lavalava or thu for Sunday and a spray deodorant, as well as a letter from an angel (which the godparent had written for the child).