Welcome to the FIRST edition of 2-2-2 Tuesday!
Here are 2 cultural highlights, 2 quotes, and 2 brief stories for you to enjoy.
2 Cultural Highlights:
1. Guatmalens LOVE Fireworks.
It’s not uncommon to hear their explosions at all hours of the day and night. Guatemalans light fire to the sky to celebrate birthdays, quinceañeras, weddings, and festivals. The regular fiery blasts feed my inner pyromaniac.
2. Antigua is home to three volcanoes: Fuego, Agua, and Actenango.
Fuego, which stands 12,346 ft high, is active and erupts five to nine times every hour. In June 2018, a massive eruption killed 201 people, injured dozens, and left hundreds missing.
To our parents’ dismay, we plan to hike Fuego next weekend. Before you go on thinking we are nuts (we probably are), just remember the likelihood of a catastrophic event is much greater the next time you and I decide to passenger a car. Life is about risk management, and we shall take our chances on this one-of-a-kind experience. Wish us luck. 😉
2 Quotes:
1. “We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started. And know the place for the first time.” T.S. Elliot
2. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
2 Brief Stories
1. It was January 24th, 2023. Our final day in our hometown of Mesa, Arizona.
My wife Farah and I were feeling the stress of having just a few waking hours left before leaving our home, family, and friends for an entire year of travel. We stopped by a grocery store to grab some quick grub. Waiting for our sandwiches and facing many unfinished tasks, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed when…
A young man working the meat department nervously fumbled the last piece of mouthwatering precooked Salmon with his tongs. He was clearly new to the job, hesitant, and now fearful of the woman who seemed to be eagerly awaiting the salmon she requested. To my surprise, I watched the elderly woman change her demeanor, and give the gift of a warm smile. She shared encouraging words inaudible to me as she kindly accepted the salmon with gratitude. I watched the young man’s expression shift from one of embarrassment and defeat to one of improved confidence and determination. There’s no way for me to know how that young man felt hours and days later, but my hunch is that the experience had a lasting impact.
Interestingly, observing the experience also calmed my worried mind, and helped me realize how powerful small acts of kindness can be.
As part of our travel year, Farah and I have a goal to expand our perspective, and awareness. Seeing life through a different lens doesn’t require global travel. Just intention, a present mind, and observation.
This experience caused me to reflect on the flipside of human interaction. The moments we quickly criticize each other for small mistakes. Perhaps with a glare, a honking horn, a passive aggressive comment, or worse. What will you and I do next time we react or respond to another’s human error?
2. “Ich glaube, wir sind hier!”
To put it mildly, entering the world of global travel is a privelege…
My ears perked up at the sound of two German young men entering the entrance of our living quarters. They appeared exhausted with large backpacks, sweat dripping from their faces, and heavy breathing. I jumped at the opportunity to strike up a conversation to practice my German. As I’ve come to expect, their jaws dropped as they listened to me speak their native tongue with an American accent. Americans don’t typically speak foreign languages – especially notGerman. As it turned out, the young Germans had arrived in the wrong area. I was happy to translate, and guide them to their hostel located a few blocks away. After just a few minutes of conversation, we parted as if we were life-long friends. We hugged, shared our names, and wished each other well on our travels. It was a true win-win. They found what they were looking for, and gave me the opportunity to connect with a culture and language that I love.
AWESOME!!! Good luck you Guys!!