Log 52: F.F.F (Forced Family Fun)
Organizing a hostel trip to see Batman in theaters was only the start of my plan to strengthen the sense of community at Hakuna Matata. While the hostel already provides a great environment for socializing, I think there are a few ways that I can take things to the next level.
I began with the obvious first step - procuring a deck of playing cards, some paper, and some pencils, to be kept in the hostel’s common areas. It was a good start, but I was far from satisfied. A few days after I got the cards, I ordered a mini projector online. When it arrived, I hung a white sheet up in the back patio of the hostel, reconfigured the chairs into two rows, and made some popcorn. For the debut of what I fully intend to be a regularly scheduled mandatory movie night, we watched the deep sea episode of Steven Attenborough’s “Planet Earth.” With six total attendees, I’d say the evening was a success.
The only thing left to figure out is an efficient method of movie selection. The night we watched Planet Earth, our other three crowdsourced options were Us, Finding Nemo, and Stuck on You. I'm thinking of creating a calendar with all the movie nights, and allowing people to either write-in an option, or vote on an existing one. The whole thing is going to be very democratic. But like all democracies, this one isn't perfect - this coming weekend I’ve decided that the group will be watching High School Musical, because someone at the hostel hasn't seen it. She's in her thirties and doesn't necessarily want to see it, but she said she'd give it a try if she must, and that works for me.
The final step in my plan is to arrange a few whole-hostel meals. This Thursday is Carl’s last night at Hakuna Matata, so me and a few others are going to make some sangria, cook up some mahi mahi, and have a going away party for him on the back patio. And yes, I will be posting an RSVP sheet on the fridge for the event. Dress code is smart casual/semi formal.
Highlight: Besides myself, the other driving force behind movie nights and hostel dinners is a woman named Nora. She arrived at Hakuna Matata a week before me, and I met her at around 11:30 pm on my first night there. I was sitting at the kitchen table with Natalie (you remember Natalie and Alissia, right?), when Nora sauntered in the front door. Natalie greeted her warmly as Nora went to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out three plastic cups. Then, she set them down in front of Natalie and myself. Then, she pulled a bottle of Don Julio 70 from her tote bag, and filled her and Natalie’s cups. Natalie cheered. Nora pushed the last cup towards me. “You like tequila?” she asked. I don't, particularly, but she was already pouring, so I kept my mouth shut.
Nora is a Mexican woman, somewhere around 65 years old, who wears long, flowy, beach dresses most of the time. The way she tells it, She's at a bit of a crossroads in her life. Her husband passed away a couple of years ago, her kids are grown and living their own lives, and - unsure of exactly where that left her - she packed a suitcase and came to Lahaina.
Nora and I don't see much of each other during the day. But every night, one way or another we find ourselves sitting outside, unpacking the day and talking about any and everything. She's set to fly back home at the end of next week, and with Carl leaving in just a few days, I know the hostel is soon going to feel a lot emptier.
Last night, I strode into the kitchen after work to find Nora waiting for me. She didn't say anything as I approached, but there was a big smile on her face. “What?” I asked, intrigued by her uncharacteristic silence. She looked at me coyly. “I've decided to stay in Lahaina,” she said. I must've looked skeptical of this declaration, because she continued, “I'm serious! I found a place to rent in town, and I got a job. Just like you! It took me my whole life to do something crazy like this, and here you are doing it at twenty!” I nearly cried.
