How it Began

Story #1

Brad Snyder

Burundian Coffee, black with one scoop of sugar

Kigutu, Burundi, East Africa

(originally from Baltimore, MD, USA)

There’s nothing quite like sitting on a mountain in East Africa drinking a cup of smooth Burundian coffee while watching the sun rise over the mountain tops. I have this experience every morning but today was different. Usually I have my coffee with the other members of the team then whisk away to the clinic and work, but today I felt like I needed some time to chill out. We all ate together then I stayed behind to have one cup of coffee in peace. The handle was in my right hand, the body of the mug in my left, I raised it to my nose and took a deep breath in and let it all out. I was relaxed. The sun was getting higher in the sky and my coffee was getting lower in the cup. I was sitting in the stillness as life was happening all around me and I was happy to be an observer. A good friend came out of the house and we laughed and chatted in my disheveled Kirundi and her broken English. She scooted over to the clinic and I stayed seated, breathing. People continually walked pass my stillness, we exchanged greetings and they moved on. It felt like a slowed down version of when you’re waiting for the metro in D.C. and the trains are speeding past you, or class just let out and the mobs of people are flooding around you. I sipped while two team members arrived and had an argument at the end of the table. Part of me wanted to jump in but I was far too content with my stillness to get involved. The fight ceased, they went their separate ways and again I was left sitting with the sun, mountains, and my coffee (which was now getting down to the condensed, dark consistency with coffee grind fragments.) I breathe in the untainted air, it’s quite peaceful. My solitude is again interrupted as a herd of goats begin to graze in the morning sun. Birds are flying overheard calling to each other and singing sweet songs. I give my cup a little swirl to mix up the syrupy consistency and have a revelation. During this one cup of coffee I was able to smile with a good friend, hear the tune of African music, laugh, feel the sun’s gentle rays bask over my body, observe an argument (and not be involved), give my goat friends a morning greeting, all while breathing in warm, clean air and looking over the mountains. Amazing!

Time stood still for me as I became an ambient fixture with my cup of coffee dictating when I could get up. I was there, in it for the long haul until I could see the bottom of my cup. I could try and speed up time by taking bigger gulps or more frequent sips but no matter what I did, the cup still determined when I was able to walk away. It’s a nice feeling to have something remind me to be in the moment. My mind and breath were free to do as they wished but leaving or rushing? Forget about it. It was at this point when I decided that I want to know about other’s experiences during their cup.

I want to hear people’s stories, ideas, sorrow, joy, angst, sass, wit, cynicism, peace, enlightenment. I want to hear everything and I want to share it with others. I am convinced that this can be a tool to prove or remind us how similar we all are. Our human interconnectedness will become apparent as we read about the all too familiar situations that our fellow beverage drinkers encounter. Hopefully we can learn and grow by these stories. Maybe we will feel validated or normalized, frustrated or ridiculous. The possibilities are endless as we are dealing with humanity.

So ya, this project/idea, whatever you want to call it is just getting started and will evolve into whatever it’s supposed to be. Your stories will help mold and guide it wherever it should go. So next time you sit down with your independent coffee house mug, tea from home, Starbucks frapuccino, gas station coffee, red wine, cheap beer, diet coke, lemonade, or glass of Baltimore City water I ask that you live in the moment then share that snippet of your wonderfully, perfect life with us.

To staying hydrating and living!

*Brad