-^-for posterity-^-

a ‘sinh to’ is a drink made from fruit, ice, sugar and condensed milk. it’s all slushy and cool and we make it a point to have at least one a week. we head to the same shop and order the same thing. i order one with pineapple and jack orders one with papaya.

the shop is run by about seven or eight girls. they range in age from seven to fifty. they all must be from the same family because they all exhibit similar characteristics: high forehead and a slight under bite. they walk around and smile and ask us questions. we’re regulars.

their closeness always strikes me. they’re a family and they spend all day and all night with each other. the young children and teenagers aren’t off with friends, they’re at home talking and laughing with their parents. i try to imagine me and my family spending every waking moment together. i try to imagine my teenage years being joyfully spent preparing fruit shakes while my mother tells me a joke. i don’t think it would work. i don’t think i would have enjoyed it as much as they do. the family is so important over here. it is how one is defined. there is none of this, “i’m going off to find myself.” or “you just have to discover who you are.” people already know who they are based on their family.

every time i go there i’m impressed.