Awe

When do we start to take things for granted? Do we wake up and fail to realize all the blessings around us, simply because they were already there the day before? At what point do we stop thanking God, destiny, or whatever we believe in, and just consider all the amazing aspects of our life routine?

I never want to reach that time. Never want to look out my window without a renewed sense of humility and awe for all that I see. And for that matter, all that I can't. 

This past week was full. Activities, travel, practice, events... experiences and adventures, days of my life well lived. Our program spent the weekend in Praia do Forte, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil (and therefore, the world). 

One of the main highlights there was watching turtles hatch and waddle/crawl/roll their way into the waters for the first time. The sunset in Praia do Forte took a close second place. 

We also climbed through some waterfalls, or cachoeiras, explored an old Portuguese castle, and played with the monkeys at our hostel. A smaller group from our program decided to extend the trip another night, and go to nearby Imbassai. I was a part of that contingent, and enjoyed every minute of it. 

Our bus dropped us off  in the middle of a highway and pointed in the direction of our hostel, indirectly. Directly, he pointed at an empty field of red clay. Sarah, one of our companions, decided to call the hostel to ask for a ride, or at least directions. A four year old speaking Italian answered, and she still gave it a good shot. We asked a stranger, who said it was very close, and directed us towards a road that he said we just needed to follow along. This time, directions were in Portuguese, but we were pretty confident in our understanding.

When we reached the road, we realized we didn't know which direction we were supposed to follow- left? right? was this even the right road? We asked some more strangers, and started on our way. About 20 or 30 minutes down the road, we began to see signs for our hostel. Another 15 minutes took us to an abandoned red clay road into a forest, with the entire surroundings reminiscent of a war zone: crumbling concrete, abandoned construction, and an eerie emptiness: we hadn't seen anyone else in quite a while. And then we were there. At the front of our gorgeous hostel, in the middle of nowhere. The beach was only a few minutes walk, the hammocks were everywhere, the pizza was amazing, the stay very affordable. So where was everyone? We went to the beach, and had it to ourselves: a gorgeous expanse for miles. The next day, there were some people- far down the beach by their resorts, or in a crowd around a restaurant. But overall? A secluded, beautiful, amazing beach. Might have been worth the wandering. 

Beyond the travel, we've been keeping busy in Salvador. I joined a beach rugby team, and a few girls from our exchange program are going to try it out. This whole blog started last Thursday when we walked to the beach, only to find out that practice was cancelled for a summer music festival. Instead of going home, we began swimming at night, then just walking and talking along the water. 

We came across a circle of Bahians singing Christian songs and sitting playing guitar, starting with the Portuguese version of "Open the Eyes to My Heart Lord". We sat on the beach with them and sang, and asked them how often they came to the beach. That's when it really hit. We live here. We could come meet up with them every week, this amazing expanse of ocean and beach behind us is our home, these incredible, welcoming, happy people are our neighbors. This is our life. 

Will that ever cease to amaze me? When the bus passes by the beach, will I ever stop staring? When my host mom cooks, will I ever stop appreciating it? Have I already stopped noticing and cherishing little things that used to amaze me? I hope not. There are so many blessings in my life, in all of our lives, that we take for granted. That we never lose our sense of wonder...

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