The Flood

“Seems you’re free for adoption internationally” my dad says. I sit in the car of my first Taxi driver who picked me up from the airport, taking four hours of his precious time to pick me up, take me to dinner to introduce me to yet another amazing heartwarming encounter and back. Unthinkable in the place I’m coming from. This kindness without wanting anything in return, making sure I will have the best and safest time on my trip. The dinner is splendid, I get reinvited in case I wanted a place to stay throughout my journey. Dieter wants to talk more. A happy night, being dropped off and made sure I will be safe in the right place not a hundred meters before my bed. I can’t sleep, whale watching which turns out to be dolphin watching awaiting me. An early tired morning turns to another day full of encounters and connecting to the people of this beautiful country as well as my friends far away. 

Sitting here writing this my host mom calling me her daughter earlier tells me to shut off my phone. The thunder is loud, the pouring rain loud. Tropical storm. I’m sitting happily drinking my beer, eating greasy fried street food of all kinds, spicy stuffed mini donuts after having taken off my soaked clothes. Finally some wind, fresh air, the sky is rumbling, heavy rains that you will only experience in a jungle like this. 

As I set my mind to giving my phone to the beautiful young soul I met yesterday, I go outside after my yoga, walking down the street in what was still light rain. Today I exchange my money when they invite me back inside for coffee and crackers, the sweat dripping from my forehead. I sit down. Four beautiful girls smiling at me so excited to see me. The light switches back off as the thunder is deafening. Power struggles every day.

They welcome me back as I open my tiny bag and tell Sophia that I have a surprise for her if she promises me to go to school and learn English. I’m the center of attention now, her mom brings me the fresh yogurt I have manifested before leaving the house. I pull out my phone and a memory card handing it to her. The girls start laughing, giggling in excitement, they can’t believe it. They turn it on, she hugs me, they set it up. It all started with a few dollars and a chocolate bar.

I drink my coffee, her mom comes and hugs me, kisses me on my forehead, she can’t believe it. Pure love from the bottom of their hearts. When I leave, the older sister hugs me, thanks me, tells me how much of a good person I am since they couldn’t afford a phone. Going through a hugging good bye, my heart is jumping, bursting from happiness in hope to have made them a tiny bit happier. I was made the angel when truly they’re the ones.

Going down the stairs they wave at me, later sending me many thank you messages and love. I can only call this what it is. A mirror of who we are. Directly coming back to us what we give out into the world if we like it or not. Sri Lanka is a place for this.

I make my way down the street, confusing different conversations on my phone having my taxi driver apologizing for offering me yet another trip to the national park in miscommunication as I do exactly the same to one of my lovely guys from Georgia returning it instantly. Misread messages turning only into beauty and love for one another, seeing the miscommunication, filling me up with more love and gratitude. Openness, vulnerability, care leading to exchange and understanding.

No need for apologies. Not from him, not from me. Easy in the connection of our hearts knowing we’re human beings.

I feel the flow going around looking for something to cover me again leading me to a new encounter, climbing the parrot rock in daylight, a miraculous tropical jungle piece, connecting to my friends back home, a beer in the beach bar while the weather shows its true power, soaking me through completely. With my friend on the phone, wet to the bones I walk through the jungle resort, leaving, running into a familiar face. “Sound healing” he says. I grab my food, hanging up the phone, the wine shop in the corner of my eye. I’m being served. Life. The rain pouring down on me, another drink, I’m happy. Deeply and truly. No desire unfulfilled, also today (except for my giant water friends the whales).

I finally return, dry myself, change, open my beer, fill my stomach with the spicy donuts drowned in oil and feel completely satisfied while my friends figure out the the trip for the upcoming days. Lucky me. I was adopted again. Not only once today. The girls bomb me with messages thanking me putting me as their background picture. Beautiful. I’m safe and loved and wish for nothing more but to keep that feeling in my heart for the moments that I cannot feel it as strong as today and the other days before. 

The rain hasn’t ended. It has yet just started. Another night has broken. Full of mystery.