the best way to get noticed at parties

living with my host family in belize i have attended more than one dinner or party that i wasn't specifically invited to. the family just brings me along and explains that i am doing my student teaching and living with them hence, part of the family. so yesterday it wasn't too atypical for me to go with the family to belize for a cousin's house warming/birthday party.

*when i say go to belize, it may confuse some of you who are thinking, wait... aren't you living in belize? belize is divided into 6 districts: belize, cayo, corozal, orange walk, stann creek and toledo. you can check it out on wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Belize

but back to the story. i am clearly white, much whiter than 100% of the people i meet here in belize and so my goal of trying not to be too much of a spectacle at parties like this is always a bit of a problem. people stare at me, i'm sure, trying to figure out who i could have possibly come with. and while being there with my belizean family makes me feel welcome, at the same time i feel like the soundtrack that is playing in the background is the muppets "one of these things is not like the others..."

this party was not a small gathering by any means, but rather a bash with a band and loads of people. at least i knew i was probably not the only random person there. i always try to make a point of meeting the host and thanking them for allowing me to come along, but finding omar (the man who owns the house and whose birthday it was) in the sea of people was a bit more difficult. i went inside to use the bathroom and when i came out i was momentarily distracted by my host family waving at me. i tried to use signals to communicate that i would go and get some more drinks for everyone and when i turned i tripped and fell down a flight of stairs, nearly knocking over a crowd of people like they were bowling pins, and i was the ball. omar included.

i frantically stood up, mortified at what had just happened. everyone was staring. knees scraped. ankle rolled. death of my pride. mortified. omar helped me to my feet and in an effort to make a laugh out of the whole situation i quickly said, "i thought this would be the best way for us to meet, omar, it seemed entirely appropriate and since i didn't bring a gift... i though i could leave you with something to remember me by." we both laughed. mine was an awkward get-me-the-eff-out-of-here, laugh and i was counting the seconds until i was able to exit stage left and take my seat. omar told me that he nearly had a heart attack watching me fall, and then it certainly would have given him reason to remember me.

after assuring everyone that i was indeed alright i sat down and tried to wait it out while everyone else found something more important to think about, other than my debut as a stair dancer. the rest of the day was lovely. food, dancing and good company.

so, moral of the story... always try to walk with your head held high, cause it's almost certain the moment you look anywhere else you'll miss the flight of stairs anxiously waiting for you to fall down them.

homecoming count: 40 days.

xoxo