Evening Thoughts

The nights here are cool. The soft breeze is welcome after the hot, dry afternoon sun. Each day, no matter the time, music can be heard somewhere in the distance (and here, with music comes dancing). I am doing my best to revel in my time here: to enjoy each moment thoroughly, as they are rich, vibrant and full of life. That is, full of life in many different ways. In just two weeks, I have seen the splendor of the mountains, lakes and scenery... the laughter and smiles of people in their homes... the welcoming arms of old friends... the frantic speed of the city... the frail shape of bodies on medical beds... the excitement and wonder in the eyes of children to see a video camera... the cattle and storks sifting through and feeding on garbage... the elderly holding out their hands for change... the naked children playing in the dirt... the cockroaches in my sink... the impressive commonplace balance of four people on a motorcycle speeding down pothole-ridden dirt roads... the deserted beginnings of medical clinics lacking funding... the dedication of believers marching to honor their martyrs... the overwhelming number of houses painted in bright pink or yellow as advertisements for phone companies... the genuine laughter shared between friends... the absent hopelessness of a drunk lying on the side of the road... the overcrowded shops, sheds, tents, blankets and tables taken for businesses in the marketplace... the power and grace of traditional dancing... the drastic difference of living between neighbors, one in a broken, crumbling shack, the other in a new, stunning, fenced in palace... the comedy, tragedy and beauty of another culture... another life... another world...

And yet, it is not so different from home.