La Paz witnessed the birth of the first international gathering of the “Live and Write in Alameda” group this month. For a few days, a group of talented, thought-provoking, and accomplished writers traveled globally to use the backdrop of the Sea of Cortez and La Paz Bay as their muse.
Writing coach Bronwyn Emery founded this community of writers from the San Francisco Bay area and chose La Paz as her international launch, something she could not have conceived of eleven years ago when she started on this journey. Fellow writer and ex-Alameda resident, Heidi Benson Stagg, who has previously collaborated with Bronwyn on similar national retreats, served as the La Paz liaison, ensuring that each writer visiting got immersed in an authentic cross-cultural experience of La Paz and by extension, Mexico.
Brownyn has led many writing retreats all over the US and according to her experience, a new environment, especially one as scenically stunning as La Paz, can ignite new ideas and inspire creativity in the participants. Being outside of one’s country of residence forces them to step outside of their usual routines and comfort zone. As Bronwyn has witnessed repeatedly, this can lead to breakthroughs for many writers. While the main goal of such retreats is mostly geared toward writing, they are often accompanied by more opportunities, such as connecting with other writers and exploring the local culture.
Part of the goal of the retreat was also to create an authentic cross-cultural exchange. As such, a few local writers, including myself, were invited to participate in this retreat. Exchanges like this can enrich both the individuals participating and their communities.
Engaging with each other as active writers and receiving and giving support on our writing journeys is undoubtedly a unique, transformative, and meaningful experience, yet, when we zoom out, these exchanges offer advantages beyond those involved, crossing into impacting the local community economically, culturally and socially.
As active members of the La Paz community, we got to share our favorite food spots with those visiting, had a Mexican mural and art appreciation viewing at Casa Sunbreak to admire an original Uli Martinez, and indulged in an extensive privately owned curated collection of Baja art, experiences that I doubt we would have shared without a local plug-in.
It’s wholesome experiences like these that keep inspiring visitors to come back here. This retreat inspired fellow writer and art teacher, Linda Nygard to not only come back to La Paz next year but simultaneously plan her trip as an opportunity to give back to the local community and collaborate with the NGOs she was introduced to.
This retreat offered writers from different backgrounds the ability to learn from each other, and expand perspectives and allowed them to discover, support, and enjoy local restaurants, artists, and markets away from the Malecon and typical tourist attractions. In that sense, a trustworthy local connection offers visitors more security and comfort in their curiosity, exploration, and enjoyment, fostering deeper cross-cultural understanding, appreciation and desire to help local organizations.
The wholesomeness of a place can be expressed better through experiences like these and they help dispel stereotypical beliefs about any place, whether it’s Mexico or a different destination. For those of us living here, La Paz is safe, welcoming, and culturally vibrant and this was our opportunity to really share it with others. In a world filled with geopolitical tension, negativity, and division, this is a win.
On a more personal note, it was such a delight to be surrounded by creative and passionate writers in a world indulging in artificial intelligence as a writing tool. The retreat offered me a framework for my next chapter as a writer and allowed me to deepen my appreciation for YOU as my reader. – Naailah Auladin for more on my work: www.naailahauladin.com
Watch out for my interview with American archaeologist and New York Times bestseller author, Gail Carriger who also attended this retreat.
Naailah Auladin is a life and relationship doula in La Paz, specializing in trauma, crisis, and mental health. She focuses on teaching and inspiring individuals to take responsibility and ownership in participating in their civic duties, focusing on the well-being of the self first, as she believes that fostering and maintaining well-managed emotional mental, and physical health is our first civic duty.