The Island That Can't Swim

Surrounded by lush, thick mangroves, busy, buzzing mosquitoes, and reflective water, Jorge patiently waits in his little painted boat. It is five in the evening and the people of Cañas begin to arrive, eager to return home to their island after a long day of work. Women, men, children, and elderly all wait to climb into the boats one by one, their feet submerged in ankle-high water. It is now five thirty and the mosquitoes have begun to bite; time to leave. Jorge waves goodbye and drives the boat filled with passengers, as well as produce, home through the darkness of the mangroves. Each day, this continues, morning and evening; the journey to and from work repeats. Yet, although water is so greatly present in their daily lives, surprisingly most do not know how to swim, even the fishermen like Jorge.