hoy

a place of contrasts.
a tropical thunderstorm....truenos....lightening and thunder somewhat cools off the humidity.

walking down the street, I love seeing a guagua beeping along as the cabrador yells or whistles next
an old toyota truck, then two seconds later, a few beats behind is what? a boy galloping down the street on his white horse and not to be outdone... the constant roar that i've come to expect of the motoconchos...motorcycles speeding by. I love that i can see all these three within moments of each other.

classes today were wonderful! on the balcony but it threatened to rain all day so it wasn't crazy hot.
we talked about germs and then acted out the body, la piel and a wound and the roles of redblood cells and oxygen, white blood cells and platelets. So fun!! I love watching the kids zoom around acting stuff out.. having fun pretending to knaw each others arms chasing each other... it is great to see how different parts are played out!

Then Kevin, Kelvin, Maria and Ruth and I read in the library for a bit.
A student invited me over...I had met his family briefly on the way home the other day but today was to have more time there.

I don't drink coffee but was lulled in by the succulence of el cano, the sugar cane CANE. it was Such a sweet juice...you chew it then spit out the pulp. YMMM!!!
I saw the beautiful sugar cane growing in their back yard.
Clifford, named after clifford the big red dog, kept us in stiches at his hilarous antics, jumping up and sitting in the chair, the wheelbarrow and the domino table, dancing around and racing at breakneck speed down the way. He was SO funny!!

MY second initiation into dominos, they say I am good. but i 'm still mostly guessing. we pull up a few beach chairs and all huddle around a small table. My buddy is by my side coaching me as we discuss the game. Rapido Rapido as he keeps score. i counter laughingly with mas despacio!! Ya I like to slap the table hard with my domino piece.
no va when i can't put anything down. I glance across the table at my student's father. we are on the same equipo. 25 points yes!! we have the last domino that can fit in either posiition. I think...

I love the "lazy afternoons" it feels so good and so healthy to sit outside, enjoy each other, your neighbors and kids and el ambiente. I can't quite express in words how i feel to be here. I am constantly rendered speechless by the kindness i see and feel.
kisses on both cheeks for hoy y manana.
coca-cola y galletas
arroz, habichuelas y ensalada
when there is none to spare. for me, mostly a stranger. just trying to teach.
we walk 7 abreast home as i want to hold all these amazing kids hands. We pick up kids along the way and everyone is so eager to acopanarme home. I am astounded, astonished in awes. blessed
loved. almost on many counts brought to tears by the simple yet profound acts of kindness.