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Alissa Mena ♦
Photo by Brian Watson
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” is a phrase we toss around when referring to physical beauty. But we often overlook the depth and truth of this saying, especially when we think of our everyday surroundings, such as my village. You may ask, what can be so beautiful about a small village? Beauty in my village is on a Sunday morning from the crack of sunrise till noon. The awakening sun, people, flora and fauna all rise to praise God.
Photo by R. Ramirez
At about 5:30, the vast sky graces the neighborhood with a magnificent ocean blue that merges with a golden glow, like a halo around our homes. It colors the neighborhood an orange-pink tint for some time as it brings life back into the white cumulus and stratus clouds overhead. It is easy to miss this glorious sight in this generation, where we all look down into our phones instead of up. But the ones who glance upward have the privilege of observing this sight. The sun is the first to arise, drawing attention to itself with pride, and serves as an alarm clock to the early bird villagers.
Photo by Alissa Mena
The elders on my street are always the first people to rise; it seems they are not tired of seeing the same daybreak for decade on decade. These early risers are the first at the markets to get only the freshest of meats and vegetables. They are the first ones to start washing their clothes before the water pressure becomes low, and the first to start cooking before Sunday morning church service. Yes, these are the dedicated church-goers who wake up and thank God for life every day. Following the elders, the youths and children are dragged out of bed because they know, “If you live in this house you will go to church.” No matter how grudgingly they wake up, usually they leave the house with smiles, dressed in pretty frocks and suits ready to walk to church to see their friends in Sunday school.
Do not think that the sky and people are the only awakening beauties on Sunday mornings. Nothing is more awake than the animals and plants in my village. The loud barking dogs chase the feeble cats and scurry around, energized from the sleep of the previous night. The roosters “ka-ka-doodle-doo” their way to breakfast, and the countless parrots squeal as they fly around from tree to tree. These trees are coated with the fresh dew of the morning that gives the leaves a sort of luster. Flowers, ranging from pale white bougainvillea to the bold red of the hibiscus, bloom as they rise and turn to the bright sun.
Photo by Harriet Scarborough
You may be wondering where on earth is this paradise? It is no other than the humble village of Esperanza, situated in the Cayo District. Somehow all these little elements brought together make Esperanza the most beautiful setting in all of Belize. Yes, it is the kind of beauty that we often overlook, but when we take the time to observe, we are taken aback and amazed.
How is it possible for everything and everyone to have the same purpose when they awake? On a Sunday morning in my village everything and everyone comes together to praise God. And nothing is more beautiful than worship from an organism to its maker.
Photo by Alissa Mena
Alissa Mena is a biology major at the University of Belize. She lives in Esperanza Village and enjoys singing and art, especially textile manipulation.