As i-tunes shuffled through the songs, I took my time completing the morning routine; trying to find the melody that would carry me out of the trough. To my benefit, I had nothing scheduled early today, and didn't wake to the blaring beeps of the alarm clock. No, today I slept until the roosters crowed (which definitely doesn't count as "sleeping in".
Without resolution, I finally hit-the-streets; entering the commotion that is the conglomeration of rurality kissing modernity. Rick-shaw moto-taxis honking as they pass a women leading her burro through town. The yells of the street vendors fused to the passing blurbs of electronic cumbia music. Gurgles, crows, and doodle-dos from the poultry heard through the cloud of exhaust from the dump truck's diesel engine. Just like any other morning.
First on my agenda was to make my way down to one of the larger public schools to meet with the director in regards to starting a vegetable garden. We spent a few hours last week together in meetings; discussing the details. Today was to be the day that we finalized our plans. Without a great deal of shock, I discovered that she was out of the office today. Thus, postponing the project and also perpetuating my current state of mind.
I then zigged and zagged through the labyrinth and arrived at another school where I am scheduled to wrap up a decent sized vegetable garden in two days. I was greeted with embraces and screams of all the students out at recess. More so, a handful of young boys were stretching their heads through the gates' entrance to watch the working men in the street repair to water tube which was destroyed a few weeks prior, and crippling the completion of this particular project.
To smooth things over, I was surprised to find that we are still on schedule to complete the project this week. To add to the excitement, there was a very strong interest by many of the parents to volunteer their time to finish the garden. Already in smiles, I cheerfully wandered on down to the hospital to meet with a few other community partners to chat about yet another project.
I've been planning a series of participatory health-related lectures in a rural school about a 45 minute hike out of town. Coordinating so many dates with a variety of people has proven to be extremely difficult, and today was the day to finalize all the dates and hope for confirmations.
As I entered the hospital, I encountered the usual display of people in the waiting room. There's the crying baby, the agog elderly woman, and incongruous eyes of perplexed persons staring at the gringo in bewilderment. I entered the office of Social Services to discover all five women there and in elation with my arrival. Our meeting was brisk, and all available dates were quickly confirmed. Then, I made my way to the nutritionist to discover that she was just as unchallenging.
Then, I made my way to the psychologist to find that she too was available at the solicited times and dates. Things were going smoothly, and all these positive encounters had long ago changed the tone of my day. In fact, I had already begun to reflect on just how rapidly my day had switched gears.
Finally, I was on my way to meet with the fourth person who had previously agreed to participate in giving lectures to the high school students this month. On the walk, I received a phone call from an old friend I met while volunteering in Costa Rica a few years back. He currently resides in Singapore and was in Columbia visiting is in-laws. His only business was to call and say hi as we once again found ourselves on the same continent...and it was spectacularly unexpected.
As far as project planning goes, things had been going much more smoothly than expected. And, at this point, a speed bump was expected. As I coasted into the municipality, I was well received, and continue to the office of my destination. Once again, things went according to plan! With a sense of accomplishment, I began to make my way home.
As I meandered home, feeling like the jewel in the crown, I was stopped by a man pushing his three-wheeled rickshaw cart up hill. He introduced himself to me, and we spoke briefly. As I began my departure, he expressed his wishes that I have fortune with my projects. More so, he said that I have one more friend (a rough translation). They were very kind words and really gave me something to think about.
Now, as I sit around slowly typing a ramble, and as the sun fades and darkens the glass on my windows, I contemplate on how I will get out of bed tomorrow. I suppose that it is completely acceptable to start off a morning with woes and lacking ambition. However, you never know how the day will change its course. Things may evolve, and you may find shelter under unexpected successes. Or, perhaps things will go down hill. The point I'm trying to get at is that it is unfair to make predictions the first time your feet hit the floor in the morning. Take a breath, and wait. That smile from a stranger may make all the difference. Don't be afraid to be the person that donates that day-modifying salutation and surrender to happiness.
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