If there’s one thing people from Kachai love more than bees, it’s soccer. I squeezed in beside everyone else in Gloria’s bedroom, careful to avoid the stuffed animals engaged in discussion, and fixed my attention to the small tv in the middle broadcasting the game. Moments later the tv flickered off, along with the rest of the lights in the house. The smaller lanterns were distributed among everyone as Sir went to check on the generator. Within a few minutes there was a loud cheer as the power came back, simultaneous with an announcement from Ma’am proclaiming that the bees were ready. After a few handfuls I heard a warm voice ask behind me, “How is it, brother?”. Of course, people use the term “brother” or “bro” colloquially, but the way this man said it felt so genuine, I couldn’t help but feel I was part of his family.
This brief question sums up the people of Kachai. From insisting on paying for snacks at the tea shop, to sharing their favorite spots around the village, I was instantly welcomed into their families. Everything was meant to be shared, because if you couldn’t enjoy it with your family, then what was the point?
