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 Garifuna culture he knew nothing of, but that was his heritage through his tatarabuela.  He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't keep his mind off his Garifuna heritage and on his science.  He'd seen maps.  How far could it be?  Determined to put his preoccupation with the Garifuna to rest, he found that Puerto Cortes on the Honduran coast was 239 miles away or roughly 5.5 hours by bus.  It could be dangerous as hitch hiking birds have been known to fall asleep atop the busses and be mashed by luggage thrown aboard, 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 Puerto Cortes.

 

6 hours later, Pajaro found himself waking up tucked into a crevice between a cage holding two pitiful roosters and a kettle drum.  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 Puerto Cortes by himself.  Pajaro told her that he was working on a school research project and had come to Puerto Cortes to research his ancestry.  After scolding Pajaro, Senorita Chupaflor (Hummingbird) 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 Puerto Cortes for the next 24 hours so Senorita Chupaflor promised to take care of Pajaro and to show him the best of Puerto Cortes.

 

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

 

During the twenty four hours Pajaro had in Puerto Cortes, he was determined to see and do as much as was possible for a small, young bird.  As Srta. Chupaflor showed Pajaro around Puerto Cortes, he was afraid to blink for fear he'd miss something. The people here were so different from those he'd seen daily in Guatemala City and the women seemed to rule their roosts.  They visited one family where Spanish and a language called Igneri were spoken.  Srta. Chupaflor explained that Pajaro's tatarabuela had lived in Puerto Cortes around the time of its founding and that Pajaro was researching his ancestral roots including cousins who were Garifuna.  Next stop was the Bajamar which every year hosts a Garifuna dance festival.  Pajaro got to see a Garifuna troupe practicing their punta dance for that festival.  Interested in experiencing everything possible, Pajaro talked Srta. Chupaflor into letting him sample some cassava bread with fish and pounded plantains.  They were delicious, obviously since Srta. Chupaflor had to stand guard while he sampled or other birds would have snatched his portions.  Srta. Chupaflor 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.  He heard someone whisper "indio", another "mestizo" and another "mulatto".  

 

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

 

One of the birds stayed behind while the others hopped away still tweeting about him.  She said, "You are right.  We Garifuna birds have long been taught to be suspicious of other ethnic groups.  I've never understood it.  Their behavior is more a defense against the way Garifuna are generally treated by outsiders.  I like to believe that it isn't how you look, but who you are that matters.  I like you, Pajaro!  I'm Lara."

 

Lara, Srta. Chupaflor and Pajaro spent the rest of the day together seeing a Garifuna band pratice among other things.  The music was an interesting mix of African and Caribbean rhythms and had drums, sisira (gourd shakers), guitars, and flutes.  In every place they went, Pajaro noticed the presence of the same flag.  It was a flag of three horizontal stripes: black, white and yellow.  Finally Pajaro asked about the flag and was told that although Garifuna wasn't a country, the Garifuna people had their own flag.  The black stripe represented their African heritage, the yellow stripe their Arawak/Carib heritage and the white stripe represented their white oppressors who forcibly removed them from their Caribbean homes and transplanted them to Honduras hundreds of years ago.  Pajaro could understand the reaction of the young birds to him as an outsider considering the history of their people.  Pajaro fell asleep that night too tired from a day of self-discovery to finish his wonderful hadut, a Garifuna dish of fish cooked in a coconut broth and served over mashed plantains or yams .

 

The next morning, bright and early, Srta. Chupaflor had Pajaro back at the bus parking lot 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. Chupaflor for taking care of their over-zealous, over-imaginative and possibly overly brave offspring.  Srta. Chupaflor 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.