Happy new year 2009 !!

The evening came so rapidly on the hills of Boruca, south eastern Costa Rica. The day had been so busy with dancing and drinking the local brew. I myself was engulfed in the scene not as much as the locals but in my own way in an exotic land. I was trying to grab every scene and feel every move as if it they were sweet close rythms of some strange music.

I had chosen to usher this year is some different place. Little did I know I will celebrate it in some small dark Inn full of tourists and locals yelling, screaming and still some talking in low tones as if to suggest that the NEW YEAR might not come anyway. I looked at my friends. Natalia Solano was following a captivating tale of a drunk old man. I guess I had him say that the daylight dance was meant to commemorate the rebellion against the Spaniards. They proudly told of a man called Cuas Ran who rebelled and walked up the mountain with his family. Romour has it that he was spiritually in the dancing group and he is still living and continues to urge the native indian community to be proudly themselves I tried to imagine who the hell he was among the masked dancers...There was no time for such imagination.... Identity I quiped.

On my left were a few native indian young men sporting some curious faces on seeing this African visitor. In a second we were in a deep conversation in Spanish. I could not see any difference in their thoughts with the rest of the world. What stuck out like a sour tore was their pride and their huge appetite to display their identity whenever there is a chance. Yeah! I loved that!

We were so consumed in the conversation when the DJ announced that 2009 is 10 seconds away. Boruca was the place to be...NUEVE....the noise went down.....OCHO...SIETE...some quick movemnets in the room...SEIS......CINCO....those who were outside came in......CUATRO....the room was hot and full to the brim....a few couple started to hold each other tightly. I had none myself....save for a bottle of Imperial beer in my hand....TRES...he continued.....DOS....screams were eminent......Feliz año nuevoooooooooooooooo!! he screamed....boom boom .....the electronic music....was less loud than the yells and screams.....happiness reined the night. Outside there were fireworks....the sky was painted like a rainbow...accompanied with loud bangs...I felt 2009 IS HERE! In Boruca....it couldn't have been better than that. I let out a sigh, so relieving, satisfying being a thousand miles away and feeling at home. I thought of my family and friends. I shoved the bottle aside and hugged Natalia. I saw tears of joy in her eyes. I turned quickly to my other friends and hugged them. Did the same to a dozen of strangers. Boruca was home!! estoy en la casa!!

We stepped outside to see the new year at its infancy. Gosh...I almost stepped an old man lying flat on the grass outside. He has had one too many of the last shots that were paraded for free. We lifted him up to a safe place and gave him our happy new year greetings.

Happy new year 2009!!