On April 4th, our group travelled on a long bus ride from Oaxaca City to San Juan Jicayan. After being on the road for a while, spirits were low, and the one thing on everyone's mind was sleep. However, the moment we arrived at the school, our energy was revived. There, we saw community members holding welcome signs, waving, and cheering for us newcomers. They quickly helped us settle in by gifting us special fruits from the community, explaining their significance, and providing us with welcome letters and tasty food to warm our hearts and bellies.
Throughout the next few days, we continued to bond with the community. As we worked on the court, we were able to live out a word called “tequio.” The area of San Juan Jicayan is indigenous land home to the Mixtecan culture. In Mixteco, the word “tequio” means community work. Having this as our guiding principle, we devoted ourselves to working as one with the community and embracing their culture. We shoveled sand and gravel, worked as an assembly line to move buckets, and even were able to smooth out some of the cement on the sides of the court. We were able to rapidly construct the court with so much of the local community showing up to provide hands and resources.
In the afternoons, we bonded with local members and partook in cultural activities. We walked around town meeting with locals who welcomed us into their homes. One explained to us how empanochadas (a very delicious bread) were made and even gifted us some, making sure that a supply of them was sent up to the school every day for us. Another showed us crafts made by all members of his family, with him making earrings, his son making masks, and his wife making dresses and cloths with the waist loom. He was even kind enough to gift us jícara cups to take home. Students from the community taught us Mixtecan words and phrases like “chumi,” which means cat, and “tikuvo,” which means butterfly. We were able to practice traditional dances used in community rituals.
Our group was invited to celebrate a Quinceañera for one of the local girls, Ivanna. First, we ventured into town to participate in the Mass being held. After the Mass, we walked further into town where a huge venue was set up for the celebration. We had a yummy dinner and then watched Ivanna dance beautifully with her family members in a traditionally large Quinceañera dress. The music was blasting, making its way through town and lasting into the late hours.
Throughout our time in San Juan Jicayan, one thing that served as a constant reminder that we were welcome was the food. We were lucky enough to have five lovely ladies make us breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. In each meal, we could feel their dedication to their craft, eating whatever they put in front of us quickly, often asking for seconds. The ladies always arrived with huge smiles on their faces, infecting everyone with their kindness and laughter. During one of our last meals, they gifted each of us a vibrantly colored headscarf, something they had worn while serving each meal.
On our last day in San Juan Jicayan, we had a celebration on the completion and opening of the athletic court. There were traditional dance performances and music to enjoy. We were even invited to participate in the show, doing a few acts that showcased fun American dances and talents. During one of the Mixtecan dances, our group recognized that it was the dance we had learned earlier in the week, and we were invited to join the stage and dance with the locals. Awards were handed out to community members who contributed to the construction of the court, and beautiful speeches were given, bringing warmth to everyone's hearts. Afterwards, a volleyball tournament commenced where we played with the local students for many hours, enjoying each other's presence all the way until it was time for bed.
As we depart from San Juan Jicayan, we leave with our hearts filled, our minds changed, and a desire to take the way we lived life this past week back home. The best part of the Courts for Kids trip wasn’t necessarily building the court, but rather the memories we made that will last a lifetime. Our group experienced a kind of hospitality and kindness that sometimes can seem so rare. A kindness that has transformed all of us into better human beings and inspired us to live differently as we come home.
~ Camille ’27
(Pictured below, left.)
