my 7 month residency in ecuador has recently exceeded my average of living in one place over the last 3 years. i am starting to sway to the rhythm of the bipolar weather, the relentless cacophony of creatures and the quirks of kichwa culture. i know how to maneuver the bowl(s) of chicha (or at least pretend) when it is offered. i´m learning the daily schedules of the children and parents and when to expect visitors. i´ve learned almost everyone´s names and although i still get called by the last volunteer´s name, everyone seems to accept that i am sticking around for awhile. even the babies have stopped crying at the sight of my gringa-ness. 
about a month ago, i met some volunteers teaching english in a nearby town but were about to leave and had a guitar for sale. without much hesitation, i adopted the acoustic and have been fumbling through chords anticipating a melodious moment.* in efforts to form an unofficial kichwa band with some jovenes, i inquired about the kichwa strum-thankfully it´s just 2 chords alternating between syncopated strums.
there´s something magical about discovering/experiencing/emulating/flowing with rhythm´s that surround us. it´s as if there´s a rhythm written into the universe, wooing us back to eden...
*if you have any suggestions for websites or have extra sheet music lying around, send it my way!
No comments:
Post a Comment