I remember when I went to visit my family in St Elizabeth. My mom used to take me almost every weekend as a child and I remember running around for miles with all the little kids in the neighbourhood going from one mango tree to the next just eating mangoes all day! When I grew up I remember one time I was at UWI and it was mango season, and I sat down and thought of all the mangoes on the trees in the country so I decided to take the bus to visit my family in St Elizabeth. Of course my Auntie Katy (may her soul RIP) was so happy to see me and from the moment I got there she did not stop feeding me. She took one look at me and said you poor thing, you are so skinny, all the degrees you are studying and you still don't know how to take care of your body... and she shook her head in pity. What was she talking about? Anyway , then she said, when you are ready to take a shower, I went to the tank (about a mile away) to draw some water for you. The water is in the bucket by the side of the house. WHAT? I was so excited to eat mangoes and some good healthy food, some ackee and saltfish and yam and green banana and dumpling! I forgot about other things like taking a shower and going to the bathroom. She said, why dont you go bathe now before it gets dark. So I said, but Auntie where is the bathroom? She said, You can just bathe by the side of the house where I left the bucket and a soap and rag for you in the basin...and you can use the outdoor latrine. I left some toilet paper in there for you. My mind went WHAT? So anyway, I went to the side of the house and I made sure I chose a spot where I was sure no one would see me. If anyone was coming they wouldn't see me naked at the side of the house and behind me there were bushes so I was safe. When I had soaped up all the way from my head to my toe and was about to reach for the bucket of water, out of nowhere I heard a voice say, HEY NICKY !!! GOOD TO SEE YOU!!!!.... WHAT? I scrambled for my towel which decided to fall off the bush where I left it and was now on the ground. When I looked up, I saw the whole village returning from the farm waving to me in my birthday suit with soap all over and shouting how it was great to see me and I should come to visit my Auntie Katy more often! I didnt even know that there was a path on the hillside above the house where everybody in the whole village could pass by and see me IN MY BIRTHDAY SUIT!!! I felt so humiliated and embarassed but the cousins (everybody in the whole village were related in some way) all waved and wished me well and went on their way as if it was the most normal thing to walk by and see someone taking a shower by the side of the house. ANYWAY, when I was leaving the WHOLE community brought me about one month worth of fresh fruits, vegetables, ground produce and of course LOTS AND LOTS of MANGOES!!! Those people are some of the most hardworking, kind, generous and caring people in the world. they don't have a lot of money but they will shower you with love...and food. That's why I can't forget my family in the country. I wish you could all meet them. They are amazing!
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