“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” Buddha
This was my day. It begins at before 6 am with a ride on a water boat to an airstrip, an airplane ride next to a volcano among the clouds, waiting for your driver to appear after a two hour delay (and ripping me off), meeting old new friends back at the B&B, a wonderful brunch, clean clothes!!!!, a siesta and a birthday party put on by a family in Alajuela.
Some photos from the day...
San Jose Barrio from the air
Active volcano from above the clouds
Back to your regularly scheduled observer stuff. This is about the party.
I am full. Like really full. The amount of food that I consumed tonight would feed a small village for a week. At this party, I learned more about the Filopino culture than I ever could have from a book.
There are three main things I would like to tell you, dear reader.
They LOVE food. Roast suckling pig, sweet spaghetti, sushi and sashimi, sauces and stews, sweets and rice. All of it served in a courtyard, children running around, toys everywhere. Families eating and eating.
They LOVE karaoke. The machine was going all night, and the voices were surprisingly good, with a wide range of songs being sung – not competitive, just fun. It made for an entertaining background noise.
They LOVE taking pictures. Lots of cameras - FaceBook will be filled with new tags to celebrate the birthday of the now one year old boy. Pictures of everyone, people diving into the frame to be included, all smiling, posing purposefully. Recording for the future, celebrating the present among those who are family, friends, neighbours, newcomers.
All are made welcome, and fed until they are full, then asked to eat more. Then the cake comes, more pictures, the beer comes out, more karaoke. More talking. Lots of hugging and handshakes.
There were Filipinos, Filipinas, little ninos and ninas, Costa Ricans, Columbians, Canadians and Americans. Maybe 50 people, maybe more. A bright coloured dance of humanity, constantly moving, playing, living.
There was a really cool laser light that threw red and green stars around the courtyard, children flailing around on small bikes, boys playing soccer, guys barbequing even more food.
The hosts spent a small fortune that they probably don’t have and days to cook and get ready. There are chefs in the group, and the food is all homemade, delicious, subtle flavouring, sauces from scratch.
My taste buds explode, my senses are all engaged fully.
My new friends Denny and Rachelle share their life with some of those who enter their lives. They are special. It is fate that I have met them, and I am so thankful that I am included.
And as we prepare to leave, our hosts once again tell us to get a plate and fill it with leftovers to take with us. They have prepared enough food for weeks, so we all leave with a doggy bag. A doggy bag!
The people at this party have led lives filled with adventure. Moving to a new country to give those children a better life, caring for siblings, parents, bringing some along when they can, doing what they have to do to survive, working strange jobs in a strange place, meeting new people to include in their circle, lighting the candle and sharing it with all around them.
Selflessly, they celebrate a birthday. They share it with others, and the candle never burns out.
I again wonder why they spend so much, but I then realize that this is the culture. One of sharing, being with each other and celebrating an event in their lives. Giving so much so others can be with them. Surrounding themselves with love. Creating the memories that do not break down or become obsolete, create clutter and competition.
I wonder why I work to accumulate things, when it is so much better to have more memories of friends and family, I already know I have too many things. Is it marketing that tells me I must accumulate? I am happier walking around with my life on my back. I will delve into this – perhaps to find out more about myself, perhaps to just not be the one who accumulates.
I am amazed at what has happened to me in one week. I am like a child, seeing a new reality, my world opening up.
It was a day of discovery.
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