Meteors are wishes that haven’t happened yet

field journal

TODAY WAS RIDICULOUS. Ahahaha we had so much fun. Brahim had not returned by morning so the girls packed as much water and shovels as we could carry and set out in the general direction of where we remembered Brahim’s car to be. The day was becoming unbearably hot and 5-6km seemed less adventurous and more stupid with each passing minute. Suddenly, in the distance, I heard a car. Brahim? We started screaming at the top of our lungs, waving shovels and water jugs. Luck would have a man on horseback see the car, see us jumping and yelling and make the logical connection. True to the obliging spirit of Mauritania, he ran the car down and sent it hurtling toward us. It was indeed Brahim in his dirty little Mercedes – not much worse for the wear – with huge smiles and hugs. “Let’s go to Mbedia!” he shouted. We shrugged, piled our sweaty bodies (and shovels and water and bags) into the car.

The trip to Mbedia was not without incident, of course. The rainy season had left even established “roads” (I use the term loosely) an absolute mess. After sliding several hundred feet and dodging calitropis, we finally made it to the gudron (Mauritanian version of a highway).

Visiting Mbedia was a great idea, decently planned and wonderfully executed. I love seeing how other volunteers live, meeting their families, changing my own pace. We devoured three or four huge bowls of food between the seven of us (I fully enjoyed my healthy appetite, only recently recovered). After gorging ourselves Mauritanian style, we secretly scarfed some cookies and mango juice in Crystal’s cavernous, hobbit-like beyt (room). As an added bonus, Keith stopped by with some trainees – a fortuitous coincidence and a veritable party. Such a shame they couldn’t stay longer than a passing conversation, but honestly, we didn’t have enough snacks to host the onslaught of guests!

By the end of the day, we were adventured out and glad to return to Sabualla. Despite my exhaustion, I had a surprisingly coherent discussion with my family about my future site and my next two years in Mauritania. Teitta is so patient and genuinely interested in what I have to say (or try to say…). How could I not share with her every detail I could articulate? How could I not want to share my future with my family?

Brushing my teeth in the backyard, watching for shooting stars, I was beyond content, beyond exhilarated. What a perfect trip, a perfect weekend. When I finally found my star streaking across the sky, I wished a similar happiness and belonging for everyone I could picture in my mind’s eye. Hopefully, intentions like this transmit across oceans, language and culture barriers, time zones and lifetimes.