Crowded Place: Boat Festival in Lowell, MA

     Once a year, sometimes in July, there is a boat festival held in Lowell, MA.  The boat festival is a Southeast Asian tradition carried over from such countries as Thai, Laos, and Cambodia.  In this particular event held in the state of MA, certain people from each of the mentioned countries form a team to represent their country and compete in a rowing event.  The boats are usually canoe-like but much longer and it is usually crafted with details of an animal, such as a dragon, to demonstrate the ferocity of the strength of the boat and its inhabitants.
     From what I can remember, besides all the cultural aspects of this festival, it can be very crowded.  It is very difficult to maneuver around the crowd there, especially in the 90 degrees and over heat.  I found that it is not wise to bring small children because I am constantly looking back to see if my daughter is behind me and trying to make sure that I do not lose her.  Also, when I stop from one booth to the next, I am always checking to make sure that our group stays together.  For this reason, instead of enjoying my time and instead of seeing everything that is offered here, it feels more like a chore.
     It is so crowded that someone's body part is brushing up against us almost every second.  Although the atmosphere is stuffy and traffic moves slowly, we do get to see a few items and activities.  We see some hand crafted art work from the different countries.  We manage to taste a few dishes that are sold by different people who set up tents for the festivities.  We get to try some ice coffee and other cold drinks which have flavors native to one of the celebrated countries.  We even get to see a live show which is graced with the presence of some famous faces of the celebrated countries as well as that of some local activists and teenagers.
     Somewhere between all these events and activities, we catch glimpses of those who row their boats in the lake.  All in all, it is a fun and exciting day.  By the end of the day, we are ready to get some rest and relaxation.  By this time, a nice cool shower is due as well after the long drive home to Providence, RI