Last week nine amazing friends, new and old, went on a trip of a lifetime. Why a lifetime? Because I’ll never do it again…but it was worth it cien por ciento (100%).
We headed to Todos Santos Cuchumatan (TSC) to see, celebrate, and experience their famous November 1st horse races. We tried to make plans before going, transportation and lodging, because we knew it could be rough and expensive doing it as we went. But as we all know plans often don’t ever work out here…so, how do I put it? The plans fell through at the very last of minutes and we fell into winging-it once again. What happened doesn’t need to be expressed in any detail other than to say…
Forgiveness isn’t a natural instinct.
At least it isn’t for me.
The unraveling of events that led us (for a brief moment) with nowhere to stay made me question (and I’m still pondering) many things: people, intentions, institutions, fear, belief, diversity, quality, reactions…
Basically, when we have the opportunity to be open and hospitable, to learn and share with others….don’t screw it up if you happen to be a person and/or an organization who celebrates diversity.
Although I’m still stunned by the unmentioned event, our group of ten did not let it deter us from having a wonderful adventure in TSC amid the celebrations of death and life.
TSC is a small but famous village located in the western highlands of Guatemala and is known for little but its November 1st celebration. The story goes that back during colonization the Spanish didn’t allow the indigenous peoples to ride horses. One day (or night) someone in TSC got really drunk, hoped on a horse and showed those Spaniards that they too could ride horses. The modern day version of this is celebrated on November 1st, All Saints Day. A part of a road in town in blocked off and drunken men ride their horsed back and forth all-day-long----
It isn’t really a race because there are no winners. Anyone can participate (as did three of our ten). Spectators are basically waiting for someone to fall off or for a funny scream from a rider. If someone does happen to fall off, get trampled on and then die it’s considered a sign for a good harvest the next year.
If you can’t already tell, for me there was much more to this weekend than the drunken horse “race.” There was even more to it than seeing a new part of Guatemala (because TSC is VERY much like Nebaj). For me it was a weekend of making incredible new friends, having great conversations, playing games, and creating memories. Our group was diverse, four Guatemalans, an Australian, an Englishman, and four North Americans.
For me, it was wonderful to experience TSC though their eyes. Sometimes you need a new perspective ---a positive one--- to reawaken all that you loved about Latin America to start with. Sometimes you need to stop judging and start appreciating. Sometimes you need to relax, laugh, and let go.
A few people I shared this with:
Check out Connor’s site about TSC---he even made a video!
Designer, Ana Karen’s site
