444 - Slow Boat Learnings
Buenos!
Welcome back to 444. This blog honours the moments you act with your heart. Each month, you will find something for me, for you, and for us.
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This month, I’m writing to you from our regular cafe in Puerto Nariño, Colombia. Stray dogs hover at our feet for scraps. They play the music you hear during the family cook-ups at the end of a Fast & Furious. This quiet riverside town is adjusting us to the Amazon’s conditions before we trek into the jungle.
4.me - Prioritising Process
Travel days.
The bags are heavy. It’s hot. I’m tired and struggling to understand the foreign transport systems.
I love the tests these days give. The chaos teaches me to detach from the destinations. To enjoy the space between rather than rush to the finish line. This trip I wanted to explore this more leading us to the Amazon slow boat.
Seven days inching up the Amazon River from Manaus, Brazil to Leticia, Colombia. Locals use this as a public boat and to transport cargo between towns.
There were faster options, but this felt right. Mornings spent dolphin spotting, evenings watching thunderstorms, and hours playing cards. The slower route deepened our appreciation of where we are.
Making the journey the priority reminded me how outcome orientated I can be. Racing from point A to point B oblivious to what gets me there.
Can I go beyond trusting the process and start loving the process?
4.you - Between
Observations and interactions I had travelling between places in Brazil.
I was sat up on the plane.
Staring out the window at the rain.
The flight’s rocking,
shaking again.
It makes a mother wince in pain.Trembling, she signs the holy trinity.
Asking for God’s patience and protection, initially.
Her son sees her calling the divinity.
Opens his palm,
shows her
it’s held in humanity.She clasps,
the boat bounces, bumps,
the seas are rough.
Landing pen to paper is chaos,
tough.
Hitting the pages like I’m acting buff.
Focus fatigues,
brain’s queasy,
that’s enough.A man notes his native tongue,
a clue.
To connect with the person next to you.
Filling the space between point one and two.
Seizing the chance to meet someone new.
4.us - Roberto
Living in close proximity with 100 people on the slow boat introduced us to the locals. Hammocks crammed and slung on top of each other, when I left my cocoon it was easy to chat to someone.
On day two we met Roberto. A 75-year-old Brazilian man dressed to impress. He strutted around the boat in dress shoes, slacks, and a shirt. Every day he did the rounds saying ‘bom dia’ to everyone.
He stopped by our hammocks in the afternoons to teach us Spanish and Portuguese. He had endless patience and an everlasting smile for four gringos to practice. Roberto gave the words for everything in sight and helped us string sentences together. One day he did this through to sunset.
Learning a language can be tough. Roberto showed us how fun the process can be if you’re kind and patient.
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