I like my coffee with milk. Always.
It was my fourth day getting the same cup from the same cafe when the same server asked, “con leche todavía?” I smiled as if I expected that he would know by now.
“Pero señora, tu necessitas tratar un café negro. La especialidad de Guatemala.” I understood… but my Spanish vocabulary wasn’t broad enough to explain myself. Not wanting to disregard his eagerness to get me to try something new, I just nodded and let him take over the order for me.
I left to grab my seat and went through a couple of pages of my Spanish phrasebook. I tend to practice my speaking skills while I wait for my coffee to cool down. You see, that’s another thing about me… I prefer my coffee warm instead of hot even in the midst of the coldest winter. I’ve always thought that drinking with my taste buds burnt depreciates the quality of my drink. But that’s just me.
First sip, I cringed. Guatemalan coffee is too strong for me… it almost tasted like regret.
I looked around the cafe and saw the server anticipating my opinion about the coffee. I didn’t want to be rude so I gave it another shot assuring that I don’t make faces that may offend him.
Second sip, I let it sit on my tongue. It’s still too strong for me but I wouldn’t say it’s as bad as the first time.
My attention once again was diverted to my book. At this point, I was more confident to ask about directions with a better understanding of what “a la direcha” or “esta al lado” meant. The more I learn, the more I love Spanish.
Third sip… wasn’t a sip at all. To my surprise, I started to enjoy my coffee.
This epitomizes what my Guatemalan trip has been about— expanding horizons. To tell you the truth, it’s my 14th country to backpack already but I’ve never embraced a culture, language, and people as much as I did before. Partly because in the past, I’ve always been so guarded. Yes, I’m spontaneous…but with reservations. I’m always down to try new things…but to an extent.
Perhaps it’s the vibe that the place gives off that makes you want to just sit and enjoy everything that they have to offer. That or because I just don’t have a full grasp of half of the things they tell me…seriously.
I only drink my coffee with milk yet here I am, on my second cup of black coffee already. In the same manner…I say that I’m not a people person, yet I find myself inviting street vendors to join me for dinner. I dislike long conversations, yet I sit for hours talking to bus drivers, keen to hear about what it was like to grow up in this city. I spend so much time making my itinerary, yet I cancel everything without any second thought when I get invited by the people I just met.
If in a span of five days, I’ve done things I never thought I’d have an interest to do… then I don’t think I’d be coming back the same person as I was when I left.
Who knows, maybe I’ll drink my coffee hot next time?
PROJECT WANDERLUST 