August,19th,2014
This journey is almost finished…
The river in San Rafael
I left San Rafael yesterday, it was a sad goodbye but I leave with my heart full of joy and great memories !
The women prepared us a great meal! They prepared a soup with turkey in it, and some tamalitos (made of corn).
Deborah, Julo and Damaris were there, and we all celebrated at Gilberta’s house.
Women cooking
Deborah, Damaris and Julio
It was a busy day, the women arrived at Gilberta’s at 6 in the morning to start cooking. They were all smiling and making jokes, as they always do!
preparing “tamalitos”
women cooking
Berta and Elvira preparing tamalitos
The women gave me a gift! A beautiful black huipil!
They are so nice, I was very moved…
Abelina teaching me how to do some weaving techniques
They also helped me set up the warp on my backstrap loom, so I could be able to weave on it at my home back in Mexico.
Abelina setting up the warp
Me, weaving!
At the beginning of the day we were all very happy, Deborah and Julio arrived at 11am, but as the hours passed we started to feel sad. I couldn’t believe I was leaving that day!
Eating and having a good time at Gilberta’s
But the hours passed quickly and by 3 in the afternoon, we had to go.
We all had tears in our eyes… it was a very moving goodbye!
But I know it’s not a goodbye.. it’s just a see you later!
Mishel, Karen and me
The women and me (and the Handwoven magazine)
The women and me… the goodbye!!
I’m in Guatemala City right now… feeling kind of strange!
I spent 2 months living with these women and I got used to everything. Things like making tortillas, seeing women carrying stuff on their heads, or walking in the mountains became normal to me.
It’s amazing how we get used to things!
And here I am.. back in the city, where normal things like taking a shower with hot water seem amazing to me!
It was a great experience! One I will never forget.
Our paths cross for a few months, weeks, days, hours…. Seconds! But I will carry these women and their families in my heart for life.
Berta, Elvira, Fulgencia, Abelina and Gilberta (from left to right)
I learned great lessons and meeting these women with great souls, so connected to nature, will make me a different person.
And I hope you will carry a little bit of these women in your heart too…
This week Deborah will take me to visit some other places in Guatemala, and I’ll be finally going back to my home in Mexico City on Saturday.
So I say “wiila wiib” (goodbye) to you for now….
This is the END of this adventure… but I’m surely the BEGINNING of more!
“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nim-
Wiila wiib’
Rocío Mena
Tintes Naturales de San Rafael, Guatemala 