I woke up to sunlight streaming in through a window and the sound of children laughing outside. It took me a minute or two to remember where I was. I was in "Esperanza" a village deep in the Amazon rain forest of Colombia -- I was at my "home" for the next year of my life. I stretched, sat up and surveyed the room I was in. It was small, basic but had everything I needed. A writing desk in front of the window over looked the area outside. I could smell food being cooked and I could hear the excited chatter of Spanish voices nearby. There was a mirror on the opposite side of the room with a small wash basin in front of it. A small storage space (what should have been a wardrobe I'm sure) standing next to it. I got up and padded across the room in my shorts to the basin, I poured some water from the porcelain jug into it and splashed it across my face. It was cold, it felt good. I looked into the mirror and was shocked at the beard on my face -- I would need a shave and soon! I continued my self examination, briefly allowing myself a momentary lapse of composure and immediately thought of Juan. This sent not only a shiver down my spine but sent a delicious thrill straight to my groin and I was instantly hard. It had been only a day without Juan but already I was wanton. I ran my hand down my chest and taut stomach and cupped my morning erection and tight, large balls in my hand...perhaps I did have a moment...when...
Bam! Bam! Bam! A loud knock on the door sent me running for my covers, hopping into my bed just in time, Erich opened the door with a "buenos dias, sleepy head". His Australian accent highly noticeable, but not quite unpleasant had me smiling a greeting back. "G'day mate" I teased. He let off a wry smile. "Come on, time to get up -- breakfast is almost done and we have an orientation meeting in an hour" . He really could have left after that but hung around to make conversation. "So, did you sleep ok?" he asked. I tried to get out of bed as surreptitiously as possible, careful not to let my hard on betray me. "Ja, I did -- not that I remember even falling asleep". The trucks arrived later than expected the previous night after our long journey on the boat. The travel fatigue and Esteban's potent whiskey had achieved their goal and I could vaguely remember being lead to my room by..... actually, I wasn't sure by who. I smiled at the thought. Erich continued "this place is awesome mate, hurry up and I'll show you around". His enthusiasm was so infectious I could not help but feel excited all over again. I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and was about to spray on some fragrance when Erich interrupted "no mate -- leave that behind, you'll have mozzies all over you". How did he know all of this stuff? I brushed my teeth and we were off. He lead me down a passage way, out the front door and into the sunlight. What greeted me I could never have expected. As soon as my eyes adjusted to take in the surrounds, I think I actually gasped at the sheer beauty of this place. All around us the jungle was thick and lush with what seemed like a million shades of green everywhere. The buildings were basic and in a square sort of layout. I had come from the housing compound where Aicha, Esteban, Erich, Amy and I would be staying. They contained rooms, shared showers, a recreation room and a kitchen and dining area.
But outside was where the magic was! The sun was bright and hot and it was humid beyond measure and I instantly regretted not wearing shorts like everyone else was -- I would be sticking to my jeans in minutes! The class rooms were open plan and ran along the sides of the "school" and at the opposite end of where I had come from, there were more class rooms and what seemed like a music room. Also all open plan. The best part however, was just behind the main school building. Erich, my new unofficial tour guide said "wait until I take you past the main building mate, you're going to die, just die" he said a little over excitedly and with, I dare say, a bit of a "gay flair". He saw my raised eyebrow and smiled nervously. Grabbed me by the arm and pulled me along. Just past the main school building down a small embankment and behind some thick foliage, was the village. My heart squeezed so hard I thought I might choke.
In front of me lay a scene of unimaginable majesty. Indian children ran around with just the leaves of a banana tree, tightly woven into intricate designs to protect their modesty. Village women, bare breasted, tall and near mythical, tended cooking fires and tanning leather. There seemed to be a shortage of men and I asked Erich if that were right. "They've gone out on the hunt apparently, they'll be back this afternoon" he said. We stopped short of going into the village, careful not to break politeness and courtesy until we were properly introduced. We were already causing a bit of a stir with the children so we decided to head back to the main building. Climbing up the small embankment in this heat took it's effect and in no time I was sweating and huffing profusely. I was literally sweating in every part of my body. My balls felt like they were in a bath and I was in quite a state by the time we got back to the kitchen, so much so that the others all seated at a large dining table turned to me and laughed in unison. "Don't worry babe" Amy said ("babe" I thought quite acidly) "You'll get used to it -- it takes about two weeks for you to settle in" her accent as loud and obvious as ever. I walked to a nearby table with a jug of water and glasses on it and helped myself. It had the desired effect.
I took my seat next to Aicha who was chatting animatedly with Esteban. ".....you cannot separate the capitalist agenda from poverty. Capitalism is the reason you see poverty at all." she said very passionately. "Come Aicha without capitalism we would not be here" Esteban fired back. "yes...but we would not have needed to" she in turn replied. Esteban shook his head and threw his hands up into the air in a very Spanish sort of way. "What do you think Peter?" he asked. The whole table turned to look at me. I knew better than to enter these sorts of discussions. "I uh....uh, well, I think we would all be better off if we cared less about politics and more about each other" I ventured. This drew a sigh from Amy, an eye-roll from Aicha and what I think was an actual "duh" face from Esteban. Erich giggled. They turned away from me and continued their discussion. We ate a basic breakfast of eggs and bacon, fried bananas and freshly baked local bread.
All still filled with excitement and with the sunlight surrounding us, the scene was magical. We were pioneers! Forging a path in this world where suddenly so little seemed certain, so little made sense. All the excitement in the world however, could not fade nor diminish the memory of Juan. The images of him above me, inside me, in the rain all filled my head and I could almost feel my arse clench around his dark brown, cock. I had to shuffle some as my own appendage started springing to life. As if she was sent to my rescue, Amy stood up and called for our attention. "Right people listen up" (Cue Erich's now famous eye-roll) "we have no time. Take today to get used to your surroundings, un-pack and chill out. You're welcome to walk around and talk to a few of the villagers -- but do not, I repeat, do NOT enter the village without a guide or escort. This is very important y'all." I dared not look at Erich, save for us both causing offense.
She continued "tomorrow morning we rendezvous here in the breakfast room at 08:00 for assignments and placements -- oh and don't go into the jungle alone. You cannot believe how fast you get lost out there, I'll arrange a tour on the weekend, dismissed" Dismissed? Did she just say that? I wondered. Erich giggled and I excused myself. I went straight to my room, unpacked my backpack and books, my small radio and I-pod some personal effects and made my bed. I lay down for a second and thought about how much I had experienced and it had only been a day or two shy of a week since leaving Johannesburg. It dawned on me that my whole life had been made of seemingly useless, mundane activities. The things I had thought so important...what I had been taught to believe all appeared null and void. If I could experience more in a week than in the 10 years prior to that week in this place...imagine what lay ahead for me. It was a thought that could not have been more prophetic. I was grabbed by some sadness just then. Sadness at a life not even half lived. How pathetic I seemed now, my pretensions at parties my parents threw. A poor little rich boy from a life of privilege and wealth now suddenly discovering how the "other half lived". It was awful and I tried to strike those feelings from my mind but I had little success. I wasn't sure how to describe that feeling but I never wanted to feel it again.
I must have dozed off because when I awoke, the sun was just past it's apex and the room was unbelievably hot -- and I was still in my denim. I got up quickly, grabbed my towel and toiletries and headed off to find the showers. I was just thinking about how I hoped the showers would NOT be typical high school style when...surprise surprise, they were. With just a bench and hanging space upon which to keep my things, I draped my towel over the hook in the wall and left the shorts I would change into and a few other things on a basin in front of a mirror. I looked around and saw that I was (thankfully) alone. I took off my clothes and walked to the back of the room where the showers where. I am a private kind of guy usually but after years of high school and university sports, I was kind of used to being naked in public, even if I didn't quite yet "like" it. I turned on the shower and a stream of already hot water hit my face causing me to jump. It took a minute or two to get used to it but after that, it would have cost you a lotto win and a date with Gael Garcia Bernal to get me out of there! I washed the previous days travel grime off me and the hot water was like tonic to my tired and sore muscles. I soaped myself up and took huge pleasure in paying special attention to my crotch. Careful not to get too excited, I shampooed my hair, then, just stood there for a little while. Again, taking in everything that had happened to me. The hot water, the soap, the being alone in a public shower....thoughts and memories of school, uni....Juan....perhaps I got a little too comfortable but I couldn't help it any longer. My cock sprang up, hard and wanton...my skin tightened and my breathing grew sharper and deeper...I needed to cum. I soaped up my cock, took a quick look around to make sure I was still alone and with my one hand running up and down my wet and slippery torso and the other making long, slow strokes of my blood engorged erection. I pinched my nipples and hastened my breathing some, standing with my feet a little further apart I saw my reflection in the mirror. I'd gained some colour the past few days. I was still in excellent shape. My blonde hair darkened by the water, my blue-grey eyes sparkling in the joy of the moment. I was lust filled, young, beautiful and in love and my head was filled with images of Juan....his scent, the sound of him slapping into me when we fucked, the taste of his seed, the feel of it hot on my face after he came, the sound of his voice, his breathing when he was inside me....I was pumping with a furious rhythm now and rocking back and forward slightly. My knees could almost not hold me so I used my free hand to steady myself against the wall. I soaped up my cock again and began to pump down hard with a tightened fist, thrusting into my hand, fucking my hand. The sensation felt exquisite and I knew it would not be long then. I opened my palm slightly and covered my dick head with a tightened fist...startling myself somewhat at the sensitivity of it before thrusting hard again. A few more of those moves and I felt the pressure start to build...I closed my eyes tightly and bit my lip to keep from moaning out loudly....my hand pumping furiously in rhythm to my thrusting, my balls slapping against my hand, Juan, lust, love...one last pump and I felt my balls tighten...my legs began to shake and I turned my head to the side and bit down hard on my shoulder, lest I cry out and then....blessed release. I shot out what seemed like a thick, long stream of sperm from my dick and the sight of it only encouraged me more. As that first rope of cum streamed out of my cock and hit the shower wall in front of me, it dripped down slowly to the floor. I wanted more and hurriedly pulled my foreskin back again and again, each time guiding more of my seed out of my penis, each time my body shivering and shaking some more until finally, spent my now softening cock giving up the last drops of my cum, falling to the little pool of sperm I'd collected on the floor below. I breathed deeply, contentedly and rinsed myself off.
I turned towards the area where my things were and immediately sensed that I was not alone, I rushed for my towel to cover my nakedness and looked around....nobody was there...well, not then anyway but someone had been there...whoever he was, he'd left his towel behind. I cringed with embarrassment and laughed out loud!...he'd gotten a damn good show! I opened the hot water tap, shaved, slapped on some after shave and left the shower...and a river of my sperm, behind me. I went to my room, hung my towel up to dry, threw my dirty clothes in a pile in the corner and fell on my bed to read and listen to some music. I fell asleep again and when I woke, the sun was going down and we'd been called to dinner. I got up, pulled on some shorts and a shirt and made my way towards the dining area we'd had breakfast in before. Everyone must have had an another nap because they were all still stretching and heading for the coffee table. Aicha smiled a greeting at me and offered me some coffee -- I gratefully accepted and while we made some small talk, Erich made and appearance, smiled and poured some coffee. I looked around at the boys to see if I could find an embarrassed smile of sorts to figure out who my audience was but if it were Erich or Esteban, they were not giving anything away.
Aicha and I chatted some more when Amy came in and announced that we'd be dining outside tonight. We all let out a small cheer and walked outside to the main courtyard I'd seen earlier in the day. A bonfire was cracking away and a few Indian woman were cooking and busying themselves with our supper. Aicha excused herself to sit next to Esteban on a log and I made my way to Amy. "What's cooking?" I asked. She smiled. "Well, half of our textbooks have not arrived due to funding cuts, the doctor who was meant to be volunteering here got struck down with a weird fever and I have an in grown hair on my thigh that looks as if it is about to need it's own passport. I'm having a great day." My mouth hung open for a little in stunned silence as it finally dawned on her "oh my God, you actually meant...what's cooking?....as in...what's for dinner?". A slight awkward second or two longer, at that weird moment where you are not sure if you are going to simply excuse yourself or not, when she suddenly threw her head back and laughed. This was no ordinary laugh, this was a belly-aching, side splitting laugh such that I could not help myself and joined in. Just like that, the ice between us was broken -- for that moment anyway. When we eventually calmed down I asked her how she'd gotten involved in all this. "Well, daddy is a bone-fide Texan ranger. Been raising cattle and drilling for oil since I was a little girl. My mamma, well, she died when I was just ten so since then it's kinda just been my daddy, my brother Thomas and I. When it became clear that I had no aptitude for farming or business, daddy kinda checked out of me as well. At least it seemed that way. In my final year of college in Houston, a campus counsellor introduced the idea to us and I figured it was a great opportunity to get away for a year or two and figure things out -- well, that was 5 years ago and I'm still here" she laughed, took a sip of coffee then continued. "Well, it may have started out as some sort of escape route in the beginning but it's really saved my life in a manner of speaking. Sweet mother if I think of how I would've been married off to one of daddy's friends son's ... or worse one of his friends......." she shivered a little. I smiled at her and nodded my head in a brief commiseration. "So, what about you Peter. How did you lend up here, you don't uh...strike me as the ...well...uh...." "Type?" I finished for her. She blushed "yeah, well uh....the type, that's it". I almost felt offended but then I considered myself for a second. I am no "country boy". I always preferred the city. "I come across a little polished?" I asked her. "Well, yeah" she replied without even hesitating. This caused a few more giggles. "Well, I think that's why I came. To test that theory out some. My whole life seemed to be planned for me. A job in a bank, a pretty blonde Afrikaner wife, kids a station wagon and a family dog. I know I want more. I hope I'm worth more...." that last admission caused my voice to crack a little. I looked down trying to regain my composure "Whoa...easy tiger" Amy replied, with her hand almost around my shoulders, now kind of just hovering. I looked up and smiled at her. "Sorry" I said "Don't mention it. In a really weird sort of way, I think I understand". We suddenly became both aware of the stark similarities that existed between us. Crack, crack, crack. I thought to myself. The ice is now gone. Esteban came to call us to supper just then, we all got up, ate and didn't spend too much time hanging around afterwards, it was going to be a long day in the morning. I excused myself, walked to my room, got undressed save for my shorts, brushed my teeth and climbed into bed. The window was left open and the curtains were open too. It was far too hot to close them both. As the moonlight beamed in through the window's, I felt content at finally having some form of bonding with Amy and also at being here, everything so far just felt "right" and proper. I would have to get in touch with my family of course and sooner rather than later. I resolved to write by the weekend as there was a bi-monthly service from Esperanza to the main ferry town that would stop here next week. I lay with my arms behind my head and and feet crossed, just a sheet covering me from the waist down. Juan entered my thoughts and a rise of goose-flesh covered my body. I smiled. How I missed him. My God I missed him. I missed him like I'd never known possible. The longing that I felt for this man was unequalled.
I fell asleep with thoughts of his lips on mine...and my hand on his cock.
I awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and alive...and covered in mosquito bites!! I remembered Erich's warning and couldn't help myself laughing a little. I checked my bed side clock, it was 06:00. I got up, looked out the window. The sun was just beginning to show itself and I knew just what I needed and wanted. I pulled on some shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed my i-pod, put on my trainers and walked outside. I selected my favourite pre-set playlist and moments later I was jogging down the dirt road that linked to the main road we'd arrived on a couple of days before. It felt good to run again. The first couple of kilometers I took slowly, taking care to make sure I was properly warmed up before letting loose. All around me the Amazon put on a timeless, breathtaking display. Exotic multi-coloured birds flew past me, locals smiled and cheered me on and to say that it was exhilarating was an understatement. Some looked on somewhat bemusedly, what must they have thought of this tall blonde white man running at this time of the morning. The Indian's ran for food, or when necessary -- but for fun? I smiled at the thought. I ran until the dirt road connected with the main road and then turned to run back again. I guessed the distance around the 6 kilometre mark. I stopped for a brief moment to catch my breath. A group of local kids had been following me for a bit and I turned in pretend pursuit of them -- this let out shrills of laughter and nervous giggles amongst them. One of the older one's, a boy, of about 10 or 11 I think, dressed in his tribe's traditional gear, ventured a little further and spoke to me. "Buenos Dias Senhor" he said. The cheeky grin on his face infectious. I reached out my hand to shake his "Buenos Dias" I replied. "Como Estas?". He stared at my proffered hand for a little while before cautiously reaching out his own. We never quite managed a hand-shake but the little tap he gave it was so innocent and so sweet. The other kids almost gasped. I took a sip of water from the bottle I'd stashed in my backpack and took off again. This time, leaving my I-pod disconnected -- and immediately feeling the better for it. The jungle noise was more than just a cacophony of bird sounds, there were a million other unidentifiable sounds intermingled with bird song. Tight muscles slid against bone as I upped the pace once more and it felt good, very good. As I came up the hill leading to the village, I saw that life had begun in ernest. Cooking fires were started and all around the village was springing to life. I also noticed the missing men from my previous visit. Majestic and proud. They stood tall and stared at me with suspicious eyes -- but curious eye's never-the-less. They were dressed in leather thongs, with bows around their shoulders. Arrows in a separate encasing. One raised his right hand to greet me and I waved back. I ran up the embankment and found Esteban and Erich outside drinking coffee. "Good morning" they said in unison. I stopped and remained silent for a minute, with my head between my legs, to catch my breath. "Isn't it" I replied. "I can't get over how beautiful this place is -- would do you two lazy arses the world of good to come running with me you know." This caused a near group-choke. "How far did you go then?" asked Erich. "I'm guessing about 10k's. Not too far, just the right distance". "10..did you...did you say 10 kilometers?" a near exasperated Erich asked. "uh, ja" I replied. "Mate, you'd have to peel me off the floor if I even tried that!" Aicha came outside. "Hey you -- not fair, If I had known there was another runner here, I would have come along!" She handed me some juice. "Merci" I replied. "well, tomorrow is another day mademoiselle, perhaps you'll come along?" Although, I was secretly grateful at having had this run on my own. I drank down the juice greedily and left the group to go get ready for breakfast. I entered my room, picked out a pair of light cargo pants and a white t-shirt. I would write a quick couple of pages in my journal I decided, before going to shower. I made some notes about the previous few days, how much I missed Juan -- my still unidentified audience member and how much I was looking forward to this day. I also wrote about how little I thought of home and how I didn't even miss South-Africa yet. Not one bit. That made me feel almost guilty and not wanting to kill my buzz, I decided I'd written enough. I grabbed my towel and shower gear and headed for the showers. I heard voices as I approached the shower room. They were Erich's and Esteban's. I walked in, put my stuff down and as calmly and relaxed as possible, took my clothes off. They turned to greet me, Esteban smiling a greeting and Erich offering a soft, almost nervous "hey". I walked over to an open shower and turned it on. I was standing opposite Esteban at the other end of the shower room. Although I was no fan of sharing showers, I loved the very masculine routine of men showering together. Being exposed in that very obvious and intimate of ways was primal, tender even. Seeing how men behaved together in this setting never ceased to amaze me. How the unspoken rule of "showerdom" was the same the world over. The guys with the biggest appendages lead any and all conversations in the shower. If there was to be any back slapping or arse tapping it would be them that did it. While the lessor mortals of endowment were permitted in the great God's presence only to cleanse and leave. My vantage point however, offered me a great opportunity to survey the other men for the first time in such close setting. Esteban was really quite attractive, his dark olive skin not entirely unlike Juan's was hairy and very toned. He was in pretty good shape with nice arms and a flat stomach. I ventured a quick glance further down while he was in discussion with Erich about sport. I had to smile (and blush) a little as I did so. His manhood was thick and heavy. With low hanging, big balls and thick dense pubic hair. Not my cup of tea. He turned to rinse his hair and I saw his arse properly. Muscular and very "manly" looking. Erich was far more attractive to me. He was very well built, clearly in shape (calling this mornings distaste at my running into question), light hair covered his chest and ab-obvious stomach. He turned slightly in my direction giving me a full view of his crotch. I was rather surprised. His blonde pubic hair darkened slightly by the water was quite sparse, he obviously groomed "down there". His cock was, not quite as meaty as Esteban's and not nearly as long as Juan's but nearly as thick. His balls were big but not low hanging. His foreskin was pulled back as he washed himself exposing his nicely sized and pink head. His arse was tight and clearly defined by years of sport. This rather candid examination caused a twinge down below and I decided it best to end my investigation. The boys were unaware of it, thankfully.
I was the first to get out followed by Esteban who came after me to the basins. But while I grabbed a towel and tied it around my waist, he remained naked while we shaved and chatted. A few times his cock slapped against the basin as he was excitedly telling me about a sport event in Spain some years back, the smell of freshly showered men in a shower, the candid almost overly-deliberate nudity... the scene was far too homoerotic for my liking and my cock was beginning to notice. I finished up quickly and left the shower room just in time as my penis had now taken full flight. I ran into my room, closed the door sharply behind me and dropped my towel revealing my now rock hard, achingly erect penis.
I saw myself in the mirror. Not bad I thought and there was simply no way this moment would pass. I reached down and began to stroke myself with purpose...taking care to pull my foreskin all the way back...I closed the curtains and climbed onto my bed and continued thrusting upwards to meet my closed fist, pumping my cock hard. I didn't have time but needed this action. The shower scene played out in my head...the two boys who had not known of my intimate exam, their flaccid penises shaking around as they moved, showered, cleaned themselves. I reached over and grabbed some hand moisturiser. In the absence of lube, this would have to do. I squeezed out a generous amount onto my cock and around my balls, letting the bottle go I used that hand to rub in the lotion, savouring the smooth and blissful feel of it, with my free hand I pinched down on one of my nipples hard. I thought of Juan and my heart ached for him. Where he had been before inside me, was now only a void. A dull ache that longed to be filled. It would not be long now. I felt the pressure building deep inside me, my balls tightening and my breathing becoming sharp and erratic. I thrust my hips upwards and let out a strong, hot stream of my seed. I shot so hard some of it landed on my chin. Stream after stream shot out of my cock and the relief was intense. With no time for another shower, I poured some water into my basin and cleaned myself up, dressed and went out to breakfast. Feeling more alive than I had in a very long time.
Everyone was already seated and eating when I took my seat next to Erich. Enthusiastic chatter filled the room and we laughed at a Esteban's description of our journey. Aicha was also in a very good mood. After breakfast, Amy motioned for us to meet her outside and off we went. "Ok people. This is it -- your first day. Follow me and I'll show you around the school building" The school "building" was really nothing more than cement slabs and a roof of grass -- but it was a building and it was all we needed. Each pre-marked space within the buildings had a black board and a few American styled school tables and chairs -- donated by the "US-Aid" foundation I later found out. My "classroom" was next to Aicha's to the left of the building and Erich and Esteban shared the other side with the "courtyard" in the middle. I would take a mixed class of teenagers between 13 -- 16. Although no one really knew there ages as this was not a common trait amongst the Indians. A characteristic, I felt, I wished we'd all shared. We had basic teaching implements, chalk board and some really old tattered books -- but it was something and I resolved right there and then to make the very, very best of it.
I was introduced to my class by Amy who'd all excitedly been waiting for me. This particular site was virtually brand new -- there had only been one, one year program before us and the whole thing was nearly abandoned due to lack of funding. It was Amy's sharp wittedness and persuasive nature that ensured it's survival I was told.
I greeted my class and decided that I would first take stock of my new student's current level's of English. I tried a greeting: "Good morning kids, how are you all doing today?" I asked. Silence. I mean you could have heard a pin fall! "Oookkk I said. I guess we start at the beginning then!"
I had a quick look through the old second (possibly a lot older than that) hand books that I had as a guide and then had a thought. We'd begin with a story book -- leave all the rule's and grammar for later. The selection I had was a rather morbid one at that and I decided to have some sent from home the next logistical availability pending. For now, we would work our way through "Oliver Twist" It was a symbol of just how much we had evolved as a planet (perhaps not entirely in the right direction) when one considered that I was an Afrikaans speaking, white, homosexual South African male, teaching English to Spanish speaking Indians with the aid of a literary master from England, deep in the jungles of third world Colombia. They would hear of an England most if not all of them would very likely never see, from a South African they would battle to understand. This would be a temporary book. I made a mental note to speak to Juan when he returned about finding and helping fund more relevant literature.
I looked up and saw a class full of teen-agers staring at me expectantly, I'd momentarily forgotten where I was. I smiled, a little nervously and looked for a chair. I sat on a tool and motioned for them to all move a little closer to me and began reading, "Oliver Twist". They'd had some tuition in English but it was clearly not enough to make it through the first paragraph. All I got was giggles and sighs with some of them beginning to talk amongst themselves. This was going to be very frustrating indeed. Halfway through only the second paragraph, I decided enough was enough. It was going to take some master planning on my side to make this even halfway workable. I decided to get going with the basics. I stood up, walked over to the chalkboard and wrote in English:
"Good morning my name is Peter. I am your teacher". A little girl who'd been staring at me the most curiously from the front rows saw what I was doing, got up and took the chalk from my hand. She wrote on the board in shaky but legible Spanish "Buenos Dias, mi llama esta Peter. Yo soy um proffessor" - and thus began my career, as an English teacher. Moments later I had the class in hysterics with my bad Spanish and over animated antics trying to describe things. Nouns, verbs and adjectives would have to wait. For now, I needed to earn their trust and establish some basis of communication. I couldn't believe it when Amy came in calling for lunch -- that also meant that school was out for the day. They had obligations back at the village and I had to prepare for the next day. A few of the kids managed shy goodbye's and handshakes, most giggled and ran out of the building, others still never even acknowledged me on the way out. Clearly there by parental insistence rather than actual interest. I would have to work very, very hard.
"So, how did it go?" Amy asked me as I walked up to the main building. I stopped to consider it for a moment. I was filled with so very many conflicting emotions just then. I was thrilled and exhilarated at the experience but there was also a sadness to what had just happened. The fact that these kids were not learning anything of their own country, culture...how would they find a sense of purpose to their lives, a feeling of belonging. "Peter?" Amy enquired again. "Oh...sorry Amy, ja good. Ok-ish. Thanks" She smiled at me -- something flashed between us just then. It was a moment of realisation. We understood each other. Walking back to the main building in silence together, I had moment to think about what I would do the next day and how I could get more material. "Hey, is there a way that I can have some books brought in from Bogota'" I asked. Amy stopped and turned to face me. "Peter -- it's day one. Give it a chance first. I know what you're trying to do and it's noble but give it some time first" This irritated. Forgetting that I still had much to learn about this place I sighed with frustration. She put her arm around me and walked the rest of the way up in silence.
I could hear Erich talking excitedly even before I could see him! He was in such high spirits that it was impossible not to feel excited with him. He had us all in absolute hysterics at his stories from his class. He had a group of kids aged somewhere between 5 -- 10 and his descriptions of them and their antics were just too sweet. Esteban was annoyed at the lack of materials and made this quite vocal while Aicha was using this as an opportunity to bemoan the ills of Capitalism. Amy had gone off to handle some business with some local officials. It would be lunch soon and I wondered what time she'd get back. Erich came to sit with me. "Hey mate, you ok -- you're looking a little distant there" I couldn't help myself. "I miss Juan" It fell out of my mouth and I blushed profusely. "I'm sorry..." I started. Erich looked strangely hurt at that admission but instead said "hey no worries mate, I understand -- I know what that feels like...to miss someone you care about" This sudden over-share of emotion on my part had embarrassed me and I moved to change the topic. "What do you think -- possible to make a success here?" "Ahhhhhh mate, are you kidding me? This place is the most beautiful, most exciting place I've even been in my life, I wonder if I'll ever leave!" and then it struck me. All this time and the thought never even entered my mind once. Through everything that I'd experienced that past week and a bit, the journey, Juan, the village, the school. I'd never once even considered it -- and now that Erich had said it, it was so glaringly obvious I could've screamed it out.
What.if.I.never.left.this.place?
I looked up at him and smiled, put my arm around his shoulder and started walking up to lunch. "What if indeed mate" I replied. "What if indeed."
Notes: Chapter 3 is a bridge and platform chapter, stay with me. It's going to get a lot better! As always please keep your thoughts coming -- I was so encouraged by all the feedback I got from the previous two chapters and I'm sorry it's taken this long to get the third one out but I'm back and I hope you're going to stick with it! Add me on facebook -- * www.facebook.com/peterjohnjnb* or drop me an e-mail at peterjohnjnb@gmail.com