Fogo The First Stop
Trip Start
Jul 01, 2010
1
60
64
Trip End
Apr 01, 2011
Fogo, Cape Verde
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A few weeks back while I was deeply concentrated on my camp in Praia, I got word that a few of my aunts and uncles were coming to Cape Verde to celebrate my grandmother Natalia’s 90th birthday. It worked out perfectly because most of them are Boston public school teachers and they had a one-week vacation. Once a few committed to the trip, each sibling realized the significance of this event and decided to join in. In all, every single one of my grandmother’s 13 children had booked a flight to come celebrate this memorable anniversary. As I was speaking to my father via telephone he informed me that never had all of his siblings reencountered at the home they grew up in as kids.
My family is a very important part of my life and during these past 9 months when asked what I miss the most being so far from home, I always answer my family and friends. This week I got a chance to be surrounded by all of my father’s brothers and sisters and share my experiences overseas and share with them. I shared how much I’ve grown and what I’ve learned since leaving home this past July. As I looked around I appreciated the company of all my role models that have helped me grow into the person I am today.
The experience of this week was nothing that I have ever experienced in my life. They all grew up about 45 minutes from Sao Filipe, Fogo where I will soon host my camp. For the celebration we had a very large dinner and animals were butchered for food, something that was so interesting to me since I was born in the US were we only buy meat from the local grocery store. Be advised some pictures on this blog may be unpleasant if you have a weak stomach.
Everything just seemed so natural and to see where my relatives were raised and to have them tell stories about their childhood and how their parents raised them was remarkable. We planted two new trees on the property in honor of my grandfather the late Tome R. Barros who would have been 100 years old on February 21st and Natalia G. Barros for her 90th birthday on February 23rd. We concluded the celebration with a mass service at the house and cut a cake for my grandmother.
Shooting Touch has allowed me to be present for yet another life altering experience and I am thankful to them for allowing me to be one of the few grandchildren present at this event.
This week I am back in Praia and I leave for Sao Vicente tomorrow to get the Sabbatical Camp started on yet another island. Wish be luck this should be fun. I find myself enjoying and appreciating each camp more and more as the end of my journey is quickly approaching.
