day 21: being in community

One of the biggest distinctions between our old and new lives is being immersed in community. In the States, I had work friends and blog friends and family but I mostly stayed home, evenings with friends were a rare treat amidst the race to work and school and store and home. People stayed indoors where I lived, coming out only when there was something to do. Here everything revolves around community, there are always people calling and coming round, you actually have to make an effort to have time alone.

This weekend was just like that, Friday we were invited to a friend's home, a place where she also hosts travelers in little cabanas on her property. She is responsible for cooking for her guests and even though Friday was a full house she still wanted us there. I noticed she wasn't feeling well so I insisted on coming back early the next day to get breakfast going so she could sleep in. So early the next morning I find myself bouncing up a terrible dirt road too early in the morning to make eggs and toast for travelers headed out to different adventures, whether caving or tubing or ruins or waterfalls. Later that day we helped volunteer at a village fundraiser, they are trying to improve education for the kids so we helped with t-shirt painting for awhile. Later we had dinner at a new friend's house, her land is perched high on a hill and we ate dinner under a palapa with cold beer and delicious food, a night I never wanted to see end. The next day I had 4 or so kids underfoot before we walked over to a neighbors where all of them played in the water and the adults sat around talking. I got to meet some folks from one of the Cayes and now I know where I'm taking Neen when she comes later this month. We fall into bed exhausted nearly every single night.

I keep thinking it's going to end but I don't think it does, I simply think that's how things work here, whether expat or local, native or foreign community is what drives us and it's how things get done. Folks look after each other, check in on each other and do small and thoughtful things and it's amazing to be a part of it and also a bit daunting, I can't easily whip up a batch of enchiladas like the women here can, I am often feeling lame for not having something more meaningful to share in return.

I've been invited to a Full Moon Party tomorrow, women only and I hear there is dancing around a fire. I'm supposed to make an arrow that has something I'd like to let go of written on it and toss it into the flames and I can't wait to go, I've wanted to go to one of these for a long time and never had the chance and here of all places I do.

PS. I've got the list from the preschool teacher but I left it at home. My next post will be about that, I promise. Thank you for continuing to check in.

PPS. Random funny story: M picked out postcards for her grandparents, one of which was a picture of two frogs mating. J bought it because she wanted it not thinking she knew what the frogs were doing. We figured we'd send it to the grandma with the best sense of humor and all would be fine. So last night I asked her to write her note on the cards and she picked up the one with the frogs and said i think grandma and grandpa need to get this one so they can see two frogs doing it and I said what does doing it mean? and she says making babies and just like that I thought holy shit I am not entirely sure I am happy about this newfound reptile knowledge and am also not quite sure how to stop it once the gates are open.