Aceyalone, co-founder of the the legendary hip hop group Freestyle Fellowship, tells us to “never say never because it never comes true”. My first few months here in Mao has helped me to better understand this lil gem of genius. I have felt ways I would have never thought possible. Grand highs and John Lee Hooker lows.
Days here are like syrup at a local pancake house in the south of the united states. Beautiful, brown, sweet, sticky, and warm.
Mao is a Taino word that means “land between rivers” or something like that. There are two rivers that run my city. One day my brother and I walked to one of the rivers in town. At this river there is a bridge that is abandoned but one can walk/ climb out on to it. Once on this bridge we threw each other affectionate insults about who was more afraid to jump. Once over that I jumped, a 200 lbs bird flying for a few seconds, and landed in the cool water. It felt like those river baptisms you see pictures and videos of on the internet or tv. Refreshing, renewing. On the way home we snuck into a coconut farm and stole 2 cocos, cracked them bad boys, and drank the water. Niiiiiice.
One Saturday I woke and my brothers excitedly told me we were going to the pool. I was asking what I needed to bring and they reacted a little funny. I didn’t pay it much attention since I’m used to saying or doing things that are weird and received with confusion. Once I walked out to head to the pool I realized why they acted funny about my question. The pool was a blow-up pool on the side walk in front the house. They were filling it from water being cyphered off by from pipes in the street.
Every time we go to the super market, which is high post, we take at least 2 pictures. There are these artificial Christmas Trees for sale in the store and we can’t go in without posing for the press.
I own and wear a pair of white bootleg brand crocs.
At least once a week my mom here says “I want something strange for dinner tonight. Will you cook?”
At least once a week my mom here says “I want something strange for dinner tonight. Will you cook?”
So far I have witnessed 3 machete fights. When they fight they actually hit one another with machetes. Imagine a mix between a high school fight where everyone crowds around and a prison yard brawl where there are no rules. Then add machetes. These are scary but also not. I don’t know how to explain it. Its so real it almost feels fake if that makes sense.
Here kids go to school for half the day. They have these programs called Salas de Tarea where students can go on their off period and do homework and other enrichment type stuff. I am working in one at my organization. I am amazed by how eager they are to work with me and how open they are to new ways of engaging with material. I have to figure out a way to write about this that doesnt feel too revealing. Learning is an intimate thing and the sitation of some of the kids makes it feel wrong to casually write about their development. I will work on a way to talk about it.
Something is funny with my ear. It feels like water is backed up in there but I don’t think it is that. My family told me I had to put urine in my ear in order to help unclog it. I was cautious at first thinking their advice was really a was to get a cheap laugh at my expense. After much discussion I realized they were really trying to help me. Soooooo I peed in my ear and held my head tilted to the side for a few minutes to let the piss do its magic. Didn’t work. Ear is still funny but now I have a new experience under my belt.
I shall holler at ya’ll later. Stay blessed. Boss up!
