Surfing Lesson

By: Artis H. – Guestblogger from Antigua
We slept that night to the sound of waves, resting warm and comfortable under hanging mosquito nets. We woke early Saturday morning, nervous and excited for another important class: surfing lessons. Three of us pulled surf shirts over our bikinis and watched as Rafael ran through the basics. We practiced on dry land before taking to the waves with our instructor. He hovered behind us as we stretched length-wise on the wide beginner's boards, then counted – uno, dos, tres! – before pushing us into the cresting wave. We worked and worked at it, slipping off our boards, getting knocked down by the surf, taking gallons of salt water in through our mouths and noses. But, finally, we stood. On a great wave that sent my board rising above the swell, I pulled myself first into a crouch, then a stand, my legs spread in the sideways step Rafael taught us. I rode the wave all the way into shore, laughing and turning to see him give me a thumbs up before dragging my board out for the next round.
When the lesson ended, we carried our boards back along the black sand beach. The muscles in our arms ached and our stomachs growled with hunger, but we smiled the whole way, already dreaming of our next trip into the water. Back at the camp, breakfast waited: warm pancakes covered with fresh bananas and pineapple, granola and honey on top. We devoured the meal, then spent the day swimming and napping in the hammocks by the beach.
Saturday night, we took showers in the moonlight before heading to the fiesta down the road. Guatemalan music pumped through the speakers as we watched handsome young men escort dark-haired beauties onto the dance floor. Men approached our group, smiling shyly at the tall, blond-haired Scandinavians before asking them to dance. A local Guatemalteco chatted with a man in our group before tipping his head in my direction.
“Es tu esposa?” he asked. Is she your wife?
My friend laughed and said no.
“Your sister?”
My friend shook his head.
The wail of an accordion filled the dancehall as all around us couples stepped out for another round.