Pajaro's Journey

Following the dinner conversation with this mother, Pajaro went to his room to complete homework and to study for a test in his Clase de ciencia (Science Class).  His mind kept returning to his conversation with his mother.

 

"I've got to stop this," Pajaro thought to himself, "I've got to make the grade on this test to pass comprehensives so I can move on in my studies."

 

Still, Pajaro found it very difficult to concentrate.  He found himself wondering about the Mayan culture he knew so little of, but that was his heritage through his tatarabuelo.  He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't keep his mind off his Mayan heritage and on his science.  He'd seen maps.  How far could it be?  Determined to put his preoccupation with the Maya to rest, he found that Copan was 108 miles away or roughly 5 hours by bus.  It could be dangerous as hitch hiking birds have been known to fall asleep atop the busses and fall off along the mountainous route, but it was something he felt he had to do.  Pajaro scratched out a note to his parents letting them know he was conducting a research project, left that note on his pillow and slipped out the window to begin his journey of self-discovery in Copan.

 

5 hours later, Pajaro found himself waking up tucked into a crevice between luggage on top of the bus in Copan.  There were many birds around the parking lot pulling up worms after a mid-morning rain.  Pajaro flew over for a little breakfast and conversation.

 

"Buenos dias, senorita.  Me llamo Pajaro.  Soy de Guatemala," Pajaro introduced himself.  She asked what such a young bird was doing in Copan by himself.  Pajaro told her that he was working on a school research project and had come to Copan to research his ancestry.  After scolding Pajaro, Senorita Quetzal secured his parents phone numbers and she texted them immediately.  They called her back after about 2 minutes and scolded Pajaro as well.  There were no busses out of Guatemala or Copan for the next 8 hours so Senorita Quetzal promised to take care of Pajaro and to show him the best of Copan.

 

"I really lucked out," Pajaro thought to himself, "I'm sure I won't be as lucky once I get back home."

 

During the eight hours Pajaro had in Copan, he was determined to see and do as much as was possible for a small, young bird.  Pajaro was afraid to blink or he'd miss something, there was so much in the Ruinas de Copan to see. They visited the Acropolis which housed two temples and an alter standing well before when his tatarabuelo lived in Copan.  Next stop was the Ball Court which was where his great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather had played some version of the modern game ulama.  Interested in experiencing everything possible, Pajaro talked Srta. Quetzal into letting him sample some baleadas (a thick wheat flour tortilla folded in half and filled with mashed fried beans) in a dumpster behind a cafe called Llama de Bosque.  They were delicious, obviously since Srta. Quetzal had to stand guard while he sampled or other birds would have snatched his portions.  Srta. Quetzal let those birds know that he was visiting from Guatemala and that they were being rude.  They didn't seem to care and looked down their beaks at him.  "Each for their own!"

 

Pajaro said, "You're right.  All of you.  In the Americas, we are all different mixtures of many cultures.  I am proud of my ancestry...even the Mayan part."

 

One of the birds stayed behind while the others hopped away still tweeting about him.  She said, "You are right.  We Mayan birds have long been taught to look suspiciously at other ethnic groups.  I've never understood it.  In Copan we are mostly, purely Indiginous or Mestizo.   It is hard to find a pure Mayan anymore.  Their behavior is more a reaction to how they are treated by others than to you specifically.  It shouldn't be about how you look, but who you are that matters.  I like you, Pajaro!  I'm Inka."

 

Inka, Srta. Quetzal and Pajaro spent the rest of the day together seeing Los Sapos where Mayan women would go to give birth and the Museum of Mayan Sculpture housing many stone carvings and a giant Mayan calendar dating to before his great, great grandfather's time. There were many Mayan artisans selling tapestries, panchos and other articles of Mayan clothing.  He had seen his mother wearing many of these items to work from time to time.  Pajaro was too tired from a day of sightseeing to finish his wonderful poc chuc, a Mayan dish of salt cured pork tempered with sour orange juice.

 

Late that night, Srta. Quetzal had Pajaro back at the bus for his return trip to Guatemala.  Out from behind another bus marched Pajaro's mother and father and they were hopping mad.  They thanked Srta. Quetzal for taking care of their over-zealous, over-imaginative and possibly overly brave offspring.  Srta. Quetzal assured them that Pajaro was no trouble and that he now knew more about his heritage, possibly more than he wanted.  She also told them that she was impressed with the open minded, non-judgmental, and intelligent diplomat they were raising.  Pajaro was welcomed back at any time to see more of his ancestral home when he was older...and with permission.

 

 

Students:  Proceed to the conclusion page to find out the rest of the story and to learn what you will need to do to complete this project.