First day at La Vainilla-
We arrived at La Vainilla in darkness and exhaustion and when falling asleep I knew we would wake up in yet another rejuvenating location. Sleeping outside in our sleeping bags, the rising sun heated us up like caterpillars in a cocoon, waking us up to start our first day at the community cooperative Red De Los Humedales. After preparing yet another delicious breakfast we had the honor of accepting an array of donations from the municipality of Santa Maria. The president of the municipality brought life jackets, binoculars, juicers and blenders for the developing ecotourism programs. We realized, as we were accepting these donations for the cooperative, that this was a huge day for the community of La Vainilla. To be recognized as an organization created for the greater good of the locals and the environment and then receiving donations on top of that was a blessing of great praise. After the exchange of donations, the people of La Vainilla wanted to show us their home, their beautiful resource for survival. With acres of red mangroves separating us from the beach we walked down a dry, arid path to a lush, mosquito ridden lagoon. We got in new row boats, also donated by the municipality, and rowed our way to the beach. Crocodiles live in the lagoons of the mangroves and as Morgan, Ulisses and I embraced our inner Huck Finn’s we kept our eyes peeled for beady eyes piercing the surface of the still water. No sightings today but just the meandering pace of rowing through the mangroves and ending up on a dreamy, white sand, deserted beach where sea turtles live and nest was enough to fill my soul with thanks. We are here to work with this community for four days and today our task was to accept the gracious hospitality of our hosts. Our job was to literally enjoy the beauty of this sleepy, Oaxacan village and to have a rich, cross cultural exchange. They knew we were their to make a tangible difference but we were also in a different culture than our own and operating on ‘mexico time’ means patience and relaxation. Tomorrow was the day for sweating from working hard. As we were getting ready to load up the boats and head back to the village, Treasure showed up after a two day journey from San Francisco. As Vinicio’s last days approach, welcoming another cook and beautiful spirit on board the bus was reviving for us all. We rowed back to the village and as evident on everyone’s faces, we were ripe with exhaustion but the women and children who embraced us into their family and kitchen were there with smiling faces, reminding us once again why we are on this journey. Little Chinita, the sweet 3 year old soul that captured all our hearts, made all of us smile and laugh at the end of our tiresome day. Tomorrow we work….a bridge will be built, paths will be cleared, mangroves will be planted, signs will be painted and meals will be prepared on the amazing wood burning brick oven with a comal for making the perfect tortillas. I am so fulfilled.
-Hannah Huntley
