Back from five days of a foreign town, endless ocean, and pure white sand. A blur of memories and fragmented vignettes define the indescribable experience.
Cooking meals from scratch for a troop of twelve, where we’re limited to goods from a single Bi-Lo store. An uncooked rice and burnt rice, take your pick but soothed over through talking and laughing. Jamming to music, and dancing the chorus to ring ding dong with my kpop twin. Walking a short five minute walk to the beach, and accidently stumbling upon others already there watching the gentle crash of the waves and endless horizon.
Over-competitiveness and ignorance of the importance of water, leading to a horrible morning after. But happy nonetheless at the discovery of high tolerance.
Kayaking in pairs, upon the ocean. Slow at first to get in time but eventually succeeding and beating the others home. Playing limbo under the boardwalks as we quietly sailed through the mangroves interrupted by screams and shouts of those who crashed into branches.
A girls night when the others left for boys formal, catching up on lost sleep, experimenting with honey soy chicken and falling asleep halfway through Enchanted. Stealing a friend’s car, exploring the town, and disappointed at the high price for a tattoo. Entertained by the fact that it was normal for girls to saunter around in just bikinis there.
Running from the house at four something in the morning to the beach in our pyjamas, anxious to not miss the first golden rays of the sun on our last day there. Graced with a school of dolphins instead as the sun was blocked by clouds. Playing with the pipis, enticing them to open their shells with sea water, and amused and disgusted at the same time as their long fleshy tongues licked our palms. Ignoring the stares of onlookers, and writing never to be seen words in the sand which would soon be washed away by the waves.
A sleepy car ride home, interrupted by the driver’s bursts of speed, swerves and breaks near the speed cameras. Pelting the boy’s car with squishy grapes, mid-driving, and regretfully missing the car window with the last one despite five years of basketball skills.
Not completely drama less either, but surviving through it and hopefully strengthening from it. It’s been a good five days, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
