Awesome week. For the first time since I arrived I really feel like I know what I'm doing and that what I'm doing is valuable to others. I'm going to be honest, the first few days I was here I was so scared and doubtful that I was already planning some excuse for why I had to return to the states six months early, much like I did my first two weeks of college, when I researched transfers to universities closer to home. But now that the initial panic has subsided and my life here actually has a purpose, I am on cloud nine and loving everything about this place.
Why such a one-eighty in attitude you may ask? Well let's start with my legit housing setup here in Belmopan. I just moved in to the home of Mrs. Eleanor Sewell, who rents out rooms in her home to young women attending the local university or working in the city. So not only do I live in a fully furnished home with several other girls around my age, but I also inherited a woman who knows the country and the culture and has become an invaluable source of information to my rookie self. Plus she gave me a bicycle (for all of my travel needs) my first day here, bonus!
So if a home qualifies for a good week, then finalizing work plans bumps me up to a great one. Say hello to the new tutor and mentor for both Marla's Children's Home and King's Children's Home. To keep it brief, basically I'll be tutoring after school Monday through Friday and helping with whatever needs the homes might have throughout the week. And In the mornings I get to teach an "educational activity"for the preschoolers at Marla's. Am I nervous? Well no duh. But I'm also more excited than I can remember being in a long time, which is saying something because I get excited about more things than a seven year old.
Alright so what turns a great week into a week on cloud nine?...a local coffee shop, that's what! And no, I'm not joking. There is a grand total of one coffee shop in Belmopan (or the entire country as far as I know), and by jove, I found it. Now let me explain my ecstasy in this discovery: I am a person of spots. I seek out the nooks and crannies of every town I live in until I find a few spots that I consider worthy, and that is where I go for my Maggie time. Usually Maggie time constitutes of reading, studying, listening to music, working on whatever project I may have at the time, or just enjoying the day. But no matter where I am I always have at least one spot, usually several, where I visit when I just need some time to myself. It's absolutely necessary for my sanity and contentment, and always includes a local coffee joint. So that is why Formosa's Coffee of Belmopan has become my new sanctuary. If you've never tried something like this, I highly suggest it. It is very therapeutic to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in something that you enjoy, especially if that something has no real purpose other than enjoyment. So my challenge for the week to you is this: Decide what kind of setting makes you feel the most relaxed and at peace, then search out a physical location that fits the description and spend at least one hour just enjoying your new spot in whatever way you desire, whether it be drawing, writing, reading, or sitting. It will change your life (or at least your day).
I firmly believe everyone needs a spot. Today's world is so fast that too often I feel like we forget how to be happy. Instead we focus on the most logical, responsible paths that lead us to the most secure lifestyle possible. But life isn't supposed to be about security. It's about adventure, risks, and excitement. I mean let's be honest, do you most fondly remember the microbiology test you spent all night studying for or the night you blew off studying to go sledding on campus at three in the morning (shout out to my fellow Pomfreteers)? Now don't get me wrong, I don't think we should choose the "fun" option every time. But I do think it's important to take time every once in awhile to free yourself from whatever constraints are holding you back and just enjoy life at its simplest. And while a coffee shop may not be a skydiving adventure, it's a much more basic way to take a step back and take a deep breath.
