The Branco doesn’t fall far from the tree

December 13, 2016

If the epitome of an ideal Peace Corps Service is to plant a tree under whose shade you will never sit, what does it mean if, during your second week of service, you break a papaya tree that’s been providing food to the village for the last 20 years?… … …

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Do I just go home? Should I plant a forest of papaya trees as my penance for undermining the proverbial Peace Corps goal? Any insight that you all could provide would be greatly appreciated.

So now the actual story of what happened. It was a hot Monday afternoon and the thought of napping in my hammock had been tantalizing me all day. I finally conceded and sprung out my hammock and cocooned myself with my pillow in between a papaya tree and a mango tree. I set my alarm for 1 hour and 20 minutes. 20 minutes to fall asleep and a 1-hour nap. Sufficient time to recharge.

Next thing I know, 2 minutes before my alarm was to wake me, I hit the ground and a part of the tree (the smallest of the 4 pieces it broke into) fell on top of my left knee. There was an uproar of laughter on campus which I accredit to two things. 1. The foreigner was using a hammock (something I’m pretty sure very few people from my town have come in contact with) when the tree broke. 2. The foreigner was a soon to be teacher. Imagine your high school professor came tumbling out of a hammock… It would’ve been a contender on AFV, amiright? Essentially, I’m saying, no hard feelings to you students who laughed at me and didn’t rush to my rescue.

I limped inside in shock form the whole experience and unsure of how badly I was injured. I laid down on the couch to rest and to elevate my bruised leg. I asked my roommate to retrieve my hammock. Upon his re-entry, he said, “I guess it’s a good thing you weren’t previously self conscious about your weight or anything.”… … Thanks Ari.

My host mom echoed this sentiment after I recounted the tale to her. She teased, “Meu filho peso muito. Esta a engordar” – “My son weighs a lot. He is getting fatter.”… … Thanks mom.

Thanks a lot support system. You all are too kind. What would I ever do without you. (On the real though, I’m thankful for your help in this endeavor.)

After a check up with the doctor, I know now that nothing was broken. And the swelling around my knee has been steadily declining (accompanied by my self esteem.)

 

Pictured below: The battleground.