Daybreak
Title: Daybreak
Original work.
I wake up slowly under a lightening sky. Every day here is different. I always rise in a different place, under a different sky: tree-covered, blue, grey, tarp-covered and raining, dry. I have ceased to be surprised at where I am when I leave dreamless sleep. Though I may take a few moments to recall its name, wherever we camped the night before never startles me under the new dawn anymore. Our method of travel is slow, so we grow fond of a settlement before we even greet it, and know it intimately before sleeping in its embrace.
A goat on the nearby hillside ambles slowly, the bell around its neck making a muted thunk every so often. This hillside is not the one of pastoral scenes many have painted. It is a rocky staircase for giants, huge stepped formations barely graced with harsh-looking bushes and trees. The rocks continue all the way down to the house of a small family, built upon a flat place the hill provided before turning into earth again. I look up at the house to see if our hosts are about, knowing with certainty that they would be awake, but not knowing if they would be inside.
My arms leave their confines, meeting the gorgeous air outside that sings to my skin after being in the stuffy sleeping bag. I stretch my whole body, my back cracking along with my jaw as I yawn.
"Argh, I was hoping to beat you today," my companion groans. We have been playing a game where we try to wake up before the other, using only our natural body clocks.
"Not today," I say. It isn't a big deal to either of us, merely something to help the days go along in their slowest moments. "I'm going to see if Maria will accept my help with breakfast."
A snort. "Don't count on it. Remember what DB said?"
We were given a lesson in the hospitality of these people over the last few days as we made our way here. We are some of the luckiest travellers in the world to be able to spend time inside this culture. I was glad there was a small chance that I would make our stay as pleasant for them as it would be amazing for me, so I drank in all the information we were given. Reclusive, secluded, and harrassed by outsiders, these wonderful folks were understandably frightened and paranoid. But through years of hard work, trust, trade, and even one marraige, they have allowed our group access. They treasure the relationship almost as much as we do, and they stick strictly to their culture's tenets for treating honored guests. Usually, this meant that whatever the guest asked for was given, except work of any kind.
At that moment, DB came over. "Good, you're up. I knew you wouldn't want to miss this. Maria is teaching us how to make tortillas this morning. Get packed and I'll head up there with you." I smile at her and then look up at the house. Maria's daughter is carrying a bucket to their well, a small cat following behind her.
I go through the necessary steps to be ready to go later in the day: rolling up and strapping all bedding to my pack, brushing my teeth, redistributing the weight after filling and decontaminating my water supplies. Ten minutes after waking, I am falling into step with the tall brunette.
"Morning!" I say, excited. She smiles at me.
"Good morning! Did that goat wake you up?" She laughs.
I nodded. "I'm glad. This is exciting!"
"I'm happy that you're liking it here. You know what today is, right?"
Suddenly, I remember, and stop in my tracks. "Easter." I start walking again, shaking my head. "I almost forgot."
"Are you okay?" She knows how much I miss my family. I told her the other day about the traditions I'd be missing out on today.
"I think so. Ask me after we've been on trail for a few hours, though," I chuckle.
We reach the house and DB begins talking to Maria in rapid (for me) Spanish. I just smile and try and understand what I can. DB turns to me.
"Okay," she expels with a puff of air. "She's going to show us what she does every day in order to make food for their family. I told her that you love to learn. She says that you are just like her daughter that way, so she will let you help."
I smile wider and turn to Maria, "Gracias, Maria!"
Maria smiles shyly and leads us over to the bucket of soaking maize, enunciating all of her instructions with big hand motions. DB tries to keep me up to speed, but eventually I just stand by Maria and do exactly as she does. With considerably less skill.
Original work.
I wake up slowly under a lightening sky. Every day here is different. I always rise in a different place, under a different sky: tree-covered, blue, grey, tarp-covered and raining, dry. I have ceased to be surprised at where I am when I leave dreamless sleep. Though I may take a few moments to recall its name, wherever we camped the night before never startles me under the new dawn anymore. Our method of travel is slow, so we grow fond of a settlement before we even greet it, and know it intimately before sleeping in its embrace.
A goat on the nearby hillside ambles slowly, the bell around its neck making a muted thunk every so often. This hillside is not the one of pastoral scenes many have painted. It is a rocky staircase for giants, huge stepped formations barely graced with harsh-looking bushes and trees. The rocks continue all the way down to the house of a small family, built upon a flat place the hill provided before turning into earth again. I look up at the house to see if our hosts are about, knowing with certainty that they would be awake, but not knowing if they would be inside.
My arms leave their confines, meeting the gorgeous air outside that sings to my skin after being in the stuffy sleeping bag. I stretch my whole body, my back cracking along with my jaw as I yawn.
"Argh, I was hoping to beat you today," my companion groans. We have been playing a game where we try to wake up before the other, using only our natural body clocks.
"Not today," I say. It isn't a big deal to either of us, merely something to help the days go along in their slowest moments. "I'm going to see if Maria will accept my help with breakfast."
A snort. "Don't count on it. Remember what DB said?"
We were given a lesson in the hospitality of these people over the last few days as we made our way here. We are some of the luckiest travellers in the world to be able to spend time inside this culture. I was glad there was a small chance that I would make our stay as pleasant for them as it would be amazing for me, so I drank in all the information we were given. Reclusive, secluded, and harrassed by outsiders, these wonderful folks were understandably frightened and paranoid. But through years of hard work, trust, trade, and even one marraige, they have allowed our group access. They treasure the relationship almost as much as we do, and they stick strictly to their culture's tenets for treating honored guests. Usually, this meant that whatever the guest asked for was given, except work of any kind.
At that moment, DB came over. "Good, you're up. I knew you wouldn't want to miss this. Maria is teaching us how to make tortillas this morning. Get packed and I'll head up there with you." I smile at her and then look up at the house. Maria's daughter is carrying a bucket to their well, a small cat following behind her.
I go through the necessary steps to be ready to go later in the day: rolling up and strapping all bedding to my pack, brushing my teeth, redistributing the weight after filling and decontaminating my water supplies. Ten minutes after waking, I am falling into step with the tall brunette.
"Morning!" I say, excited. She smiles at me.
"Good morning! Did that goat wake you up?" She laughs.
I nodded. "I'm glad. This is exciting!"
"I'm happy that you're liking it here. You know what today is, right?"
Suddenly, I remember, and stop in my tracks. "Easter." I start walking again, shaking my head. "I almost forgot."
"Are you okay?" She knows how much I miss my family. I told her the other day about the traditions I'd be missing out on today.
"I think so. Ask me after we've been on trail for a few hours, though," I chuckle.
We reach the house and DB begins talking to Maria in rapid (for me) Spanish. I just smile and try and understand what I can. DB turns to me.
"Okay," she expels with a puff of air. "She's going to show us what she does every day in order to make food for their family. I told her that you love to learn. She says that you are just like her daughter that way, so she will let you help."
I smile wider and turn to Maria, "Gracias, Maria!"
Maria smiles shyly and leads us over to the bucket of soaking maize, enunciating all of her instructions with big hand motions. DB tries to keep me up to speed, but eventually I just stand by Maria and do exactly as she does. With considerably less skill.