Smell: Well it smells like diesel fuel and bread from all the tortilla and pandaria stands. The warm bread smell fills my nose every time I walk past and to be honest I often times stop to pick up a piece! The smell of fresh coffee from the coffee plantation that we went to was magic to my nose. Chima afternoons always have the soft rain smell, mixed with a little trash. Each day it rains and dramatically cools off the city.
Taste: Two words. Pan. Dulce. (Sweet bread) This bread is so delicious, it is the perfect amount of traditional bread with sugar mixed in to make it the perfect accompaniment to breakfast and coffee, or walking down the street for a snack or anytime you want. Coffee shops are some of my favorite places; I have a favorite here in Chima called Maya Cape. They have amazing frappe’s and their cappuccinos are out of this world.
Feel: Chima feels like walking forever, we walk pretty much everywhere we go. Our ministry at the orphanage is about a 35-minute strong paced walk. This just means that we get to hop over a LOT of steps, and broken concrete. Chima feels like a city that is always on the move, between the busses that yell at you to get on and the motorcycles whizzing past you, (way too close for comfort) I am always on my toes. The temperature feels a lot like the Midwest weather I am used to. Some days it is absolutely ‘freezing’ where I am bundled up in clothes and under my sleeping bag. Then other days anytime you move you are sweating.
Sound: Our house is right on the busy street of Chima, so we constantly hear the sound of trucks and motorcycles going past. The vehicles like to honk at all the gringos for a very overly friendly hello. We can always hear someone in the house, there is no need for insulation in the homes so most of the noises sound like they are happening right next to your ear. Living with 25 people has proven to be a daily challenge of finding alone time and learning to live and act with grace. One thing great (?) about Chima is that for birthdays the families set off fireworks whenever they feel like it! The other morning the family across the street decided that 5:30 am was the best time to light them off. I woke up thinking they were gun shots, but no one else was concerned so I just rolled over and went back to sleep.
Look: Chima is made up of streets that have homes, shops and restaurants along the sides. After living here for almost a month I still am not always sure what I am looking at because many of them look the same on the outside. As I walk down the street I can see people of all ages on the street trying to sell something. I watch dogs scrounge for food and run across the street when it is clear for a split second. I question how full families are able to ride the same motorcycle packing on 4-5 people, often times not holding on but never looking concerned of falling off.
