My last day in El Remate was bittersweet. In my mind I was already running through all the events that would finalize my trip and the preparation I needed to do in order to leave at 6am the next morning. Over the past 2 weeks I had mapped out all the little gift shops with local artistry in town with what I wanted to buy off their shelves to bring home for family. I was also trying to be responsible in terms of how many Quetsales I had left to get me home. I was also hoping to walk down the dock one last time for my last dip in the lake.
Posts Tagged ‘Life Coaching’
Last day in El Remate and the Trip Home
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
Monkeys, Kids and Laughter
Thursday, June 25th, 2009I´ve realized over the past few days that I´ve really adjusted to life here. It´s much slower, much simpler and I can´t believe that I haven´t checked my cell phone in a week! These past few days the heat has been really intense along with the humidity where you have a constant layer of sweat. For a few nights there has been just as extreme storms with the rain falling from the sky and a concert of lightning and thunder that goes on for hours.
Two days ago I went went with a group of about 16 teens and their younger brothers and sisters to the Cerro Cahui Biotopo. It´s a beautiful hike where we saw monkeys who came closer when we stopped to take a look at them. It was a family of about 6 of them. Although I´ve been warned that they sometimes throw things at you or try to take things off of you like your sunglasses, they just dangled from the trees and appeared just as curious about us as we were with them.
After hiking the Temples in Tikal the day before, I was a bit exhausted hiking up this big hill in the Biotopo but having 16 kids all wanting to go further to reach the lookouts, once we got there, I understood. The view was incredible and from a distance I could see the dock where I spend a lot of time resting and swimming in the lake. This lake is one of the things I am going to miss most. It´s stunning natural beauty, the gift it gives me of cooling off from the heat, and the many friends I´ve met who come for the same reason.
That night I brought a bag of gluten free pasta that I brought from home to the Italian restaurant next door for Angelo to prepare with one of his yummy sauces served with some wine from Chile. I´m trying to stick to my gluten free diet here as much as possible but it´s difficult. Over the past few days I´ve also eaten more vegetables compared to the first few. We played a game with a little girl there, taking turns hiding her stuffed animal dog, closing our eyes and telling each other if you are hot or cold, of course in Spanish. She was pretty darn smart as to where she was hiding it!
Everyday I´m getting up around 7am which is so unusual for me, especially because that means that it´s 6am at home. Usually I get up around 8am and I go to bed anywhere between 11pm to midnight. Here it´s been between 9-10pm. I´m wondering if I´ll be able to keep that up at home…
Yesterday I spent the morning at the dock swimming, reading my book and having lunch with Allison. We prepared a fruit salad that included papaya, apples, bananas and strawberries sprinkled with fresh lime from trees on the hotel grounds. I then went and met Dy (Dyana) from Australia who is here volunteering. In the morning she assists the town doctor and then everyday at 2pm she goes to the kids center and does arts and crafts with the little ones. I brought them some construction paper, some glue and some Play Doh to contribute to their supplies. It was fun watching their creativity come alive with the masks they made, one of the many creative ideas that Dy has come up with to keep them entertained.
After visiting with the kids I walked down the hill and went with Allison to go see Estella and her beautiful 5 year old, Esmerelda. We all went swimming and as dinnertime came upon us we had fish dinner prepared for us by Estella served with pasta lefovers and salad. There was a family there visiting from Guatemala city. Their little one, also 5 and also named Esmerelda, was such a comedienne. She kept wanting to tell me joke after joke which of course was difficult for me to understand but with further explanation from her parents, I got it and was able to join them in laughter.
This morning I was supposed to meet with the teens again to learn more English. After waiting for a half hour which is normal here, unfortunately no one showed. I don´t think it´s because of a language barrier, I know the days of the week pretty well. Is it lack of motivation? Did their families say they have to stay home and do their daily life chores? Rather than pondering about it further, I decided to go to the internet cafe, do another blog entry and will enjoy the rest of my day. I do hope I get to see them again.
Preparation for El Remate, Guatemala trip
Monday, June 15th, 2009It’s about 36 hours until I leave for the airport. My bag is partially packed and I have a few more errands to run tomorrow. Getting cash out, possibly buying a new camera since the one I have doesn’t take very good pictures, more dog food for Georgie (my Portuguese water dog who I am going to miss terribly) and tying up some other loose ends. It’s almolst surreal that I will be going since I just bought my ticket under 2 weeks ago. Since following my instinct to go on this trip, everything is happening so easily, it’s almost unbelievable! I got the cheap airfare I wanted. I fly from LAX through San Salvador, and then will be stopping in Guatemala city for a night before flying out the next morning for Flores where El Remate is.
I was worried about finding a hotel but my friend Allyson who left on Thursday, who I am meeting there stayed at a great bed and breakfast called Patricia’s Hotel. www.patriciashotel.com
She emailed me their website and after taking a quick peek I was sold, especially since it’s only $14 a night and that includes transportation to and from the airport. I sent them an email and within 2 minutes, no exageration, I had a confirmed reservation! From Guatemala city I then have a quick flight to Flores. Some fun agenda items once I get there….supporting Allyson in the El Remate triathlon, celebrating with local Mayans in Tikal for the Summer Solstace, working with local women helping them build and plant vegetable gardens, and working with some 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. I also got an email today from Allyson that she is going to keep me busy…the day I arrive I will be meeting an Australian volunteer who is doing arts and crafts with some kids and that night I will be having a home cooked meal made by some local woman. Yum!
When I arrive at the Flores airport I will be picked up by Allyson and a local friend she met while she was down there a few months ago….as I said, it’s all happening so easily, it’s just meant to be. This could also very well possibly be a future destination for one of our summer or winter teen retreats so I guess I will be doing some “research” there as well. Now to finish packing….
the Ability to Laugh Out Loud
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008When was the last time you gave out such a deep belly laugh that you had no choice but to release it through your mouth? A type of a self-allowed explosion of air and expression relinquished from your gut, where you just can’t help it! Or is it from your chest? What I’m talking about is the type of laugh that could be considered almost verbal in nature. You know…with a sound, that if held in, would defy the intention of the feeling that came over you.
As a performer and presenter, out loud laughter is easily noticed when in front of an audience. And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but it is also noticeable when it’s not there too. It’s a nice confirmation of, “oh this is why we are doing this, and there are people out there listening, fully engaged in what we are doing.” And it’s interesting doing the same material to multiple audiences where the laughter comes out at different moments. The wonder of: wow, I can’t believe they laughed then, I wonder what their interpretation was and what they thought was humorous. Or the: of course they laughed after that line, everyone thinks it’s funny because it’s just, well…funny.
I love dictionaries! For example, from writing this, I got curious about the word “dictionary.” What is this thing that gives meaning if you will, to our language, or any language really. It means – “a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with definitions or equivalent translations into another language.” But for the sake of this blog entry, I wanted to see what “funny” meant. Funny- causing laughter or amusement. Then wouldn’t that mean it was intended to be out loud?!
When a person laughs out loud, it’s usually an expression of, yes I found what you just said funny. But I’m curious…when they don’t, is it because they didn’t find it funny, or that it just wasn’t funny at all. Or is it really because they don’t have the ability to laugh out loud?
I was talking with a friend of mine about it and she said that it’s almost a social responsibility to take this outward directed action. And we discussed the many different types of laughs. To be more specific, the types can be broken up into the dark uncomfortable category, or a lighthearted category.
A dark example could be the proper laugh which does make noise, but seems to be intentionally careful not to make too much noise. Then there is the inappropriate laugh. Inappropriate only because it’s being judged by others as “you just did that at an inopportune moment.” A sort of, “I’m almost embarrassed for you” judgment. Let’s not forget the disconcerting laugh where in itself, it’s saying something without having to say anything. That could also be considered a snicker.
The lighthearted kind could be the empowering, flirtatious, and punctuated laughs. To empower another with a laugh is in a sense to support the speaker. The flirtatious one is to compliment the other by showing that person; I’m interested in what you are saying. Or let’s be honest, the subtext is really, I’m interested in you. And punctuated laughs are an honest response to something that was perceived as quite possibly hilarious.
You know I actually learned that there is such thing as a chortle laugh. Who knew such a thing existed. Another one of those words I had to look up in the dictionary. My friend taught me that. It’s a blend of a snort and a chuckle. I love those. Those are typically contagious and bring additional laughter because of the mere sounds the person makes when they chortle. It could be the most embarrassing kind, but in my opinion it’s the most honest and a complete freedom of expression. A little girl I know feels so free she snorts, and intentionally. Coming from a 5 year old it is kind of cute.
There are so many different types; the jealous laugh, the nervous one, and even the dorky laugh. Or is that the same as the chortle? I know there are those of you out there that might have been quieted by someone else because of your boisterous laugh. This is something I’ve experienced at least once, as I definitely have an out loud laugh. But hey, if that ever happens to you, look at the person who just shushed you, and maybe ask them, what just made you so uncomfortable? Because it’s probably not your laugh, it’s most likely a personal issue for them.
As human beings, laughter is something we need to experience so much so, that we’ll pay other people to make us laugh. The comedy club is that exact arena or another example is the comedy genre in film. As audience members we are in a sense challenging the person on stage or the big screen to pull that expression out of us. Almost a subconscious begging of “Please make me laugh! Please let me experience that release of energy where I can go home and sleep well because I feel satisfied.” Sort of like great sex. Hopefully everyone reading this has experienced this at least once in their life.
And the beauty is when the comedian or comedy is done effortlessly. Where the less they try to be funny, the more they are. It’s all in the delivery. How a word is said could imply different meanings. Simple but yet complicated.
Laughter is learned. Don’t you find it interesting to watch infants smile off of your smile or laugh because you’re laughing? I think it’s mostly because they’re too young to realize why they are even laughing. They just do it. And they don’t care what they look like, or what they sound like. It’s a primal response. Everyone is born with the ability and we are just waiting to learn how. And why is it that the older we get, depending on the situation, the more it seems that we need permission to do so.
Maybe it’s a male/female thing? I know, almost any subject matter is examined in terms of the male and female genders. But seriously…does a woman laugh out loud more than men? And if a woman doesn’t laugh out loud, could she be considered more reserved? Does it make her more feminine or acceptable…or if she doesn’t is it because she is just being introspective. There has even been studies done on the difference between what a man would find funny compared to a woman. I actually read about that just the other day.
Laughter I’m sure also helps to establish relationships. There are those laughs that are so distinct that they are a person’s signature. And a person’s laugh can function like a natural human scent. It’s also true that attraction can be based on how much maybe; a man enjoys the laughter of a woman. And there is even code in email to show laughter, expressed as “LOL” or “Ha-Ha” or the good o’l smileys.
Speaking of the internet, I tend to Google things to see what I can find. And I Google’d “Laugh Out Loud.” And believe it or not, I actually found out that they have Laughter Clubs in India. And I found a site where they have laughter fitness and laughter school. Where the responsibility of the leaders is to help create an environment of community in which everyone can contribute to help each other grow, relieve stress, find balance, gain a better outlook, and have fun. Most people hate their job which is a whole other conversation, but I doubt if they ever have the water cooler sessions complaining about their job.
Laughter can be the sign of a true leader. Have you noticed those times that when someone did laugh out loud that it was almost like permission for others to do the same? And in other cases, if a leader in a group is subdued and tired and doesn’t laugh, then others won’t either. It also can kind of make you think about the roles we play in society.
So I say, be the instigator! Make it infectious for others to feel comfortable. It’s a gift, so go on and give it away! I‘m giving you permission, and you know it’s also been known to strengthen immune systems. Flu season’s coming…or you could go out and get a flu shot. Although laughter does seem a little less painful…