March
12, 2012
I felt like
writing all evening, but housework and family kept me pretty busy.
I've also been wanting to write about the idea of “life together”
for awhile now. I will try to tie that idea into what I'm sharing.
Circumstances
today left me with no vehicle to pick up the kids from school. I got
a call from my Hubby saying that his meeting plans had taken a
different turn and he wouldn't be home until later today. That is
just how things go sometimes in Latin America (and probably all
around the world!). Mondays, for us, are a bit trickier because
there are some time restraints built into our schedule. One child
stays after school for one activity, the other for sports, and the
first then has a music lesson soon afterward. This “doable”
schedule becomes complicated when one has to rely on public
transportation, however.
But, I had
done the routine before: catching the combi, walking 10 minutes from
where it let me off to the kids' school, hanging out until their
activities were over, catching the bus with my kids, then walking the
4 blocks back to the house with them (in the hot, hot sun).
When I am
forced out of my comfortable (air conditioned!) SUV, I see and
experience more of life here. I waited for the combi. I hung
on for dear life once I got inside the combi and sat so close
to the strangers with me that it would be considered unacceptable on
a park bench and a sin if we were in a church pew.
While hanging
out at school, there is often time for conversation. Today I found
out that a family is here because of the Dad being “let go,”
choosing to use their savings and this time off to engage in learning
another culture and language.
On the way
home from school, taking the bus, I was able to think and not have to
concentrate on the traffic or other drivers. Although, the large
Guns'n'Roses sticker and the Jesus-hanging-on-the-cross fixture at
the front of the bus were a bit odd and distracting.
As we walked
the few blocks from the bus stop, we saw an old friend and found out
that my other friend gets her hair cut 2 blocks from my house.
Later, as I
walked my son to his music lesson, I realized I had no meat for
dinner, nothing prepared or even planned except a pot of black beans.
On the way back to the house I noticed the menu at the tienda
between the music school and my house. Would they have anything
left? It was past the usual time of comida.
I grabbed an eco bag, a
few plastic containers, and some money from the house and headed back
to our little local convenience store. They had pollo asado left –
that would be perfect. While I was waiting for the owner to grill
the 2 legs and thighs, I met another neighbor who lives around the
corner from us, talked with the owners about the Mayan language and
learned a few words (ni – nose, hich – to tie tightly, ich –
eyes OR two people that always hang out together). No wonder people
say that the English and Mayan languages have common sounds (ni-knee,
hich-hitch, ich-itch). Very interesting stuff. The one owner wrote
down both their names and the number of their tienda and told me I
could call “sin compromiso” to find out the daily menu. I had
been there several times before, for this-and-that, but never bought a
meal. I thanked them and left with my 42 peso chicken, 12 peso
notebook (which I remembered my daughter needed for math), and 2
lemons (for a peso a piece) thinking, not bad for a last minute plan!
I wish I could
say that I have experiences like this all the time – lots of
various human contact and conversation. But, the truth is, it only
happens when I break out of my routine and put my own culture aside.
I like the interacting, the walking, the unknown, even. But it all
takes lots more time. Sometimes I have it. Sometimes I don't. I
have also been ingrained with lot of independent thoughts – how to
get stuff done on my own. I'm capable, right? And yet, I feel that
I'm lacking that aspect of “life together” - sharing in life with
community – depending on others and allowing them to depend on me.
I haven't figured out how exactly to go about this, yet, but I think
it begins by incorporating it more and more into my routine.
Lord, help me
put away some of my own “traditions” for more of a community
mindset. And may it build Your kingdom.
Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
