I am one of the luckier exchange students in that my hosts have taken me in as part of their family. My host sister brings me to mass, my host father tells me interesting facts about wherever we go and buys the type of cereal I like, and my host mother, most of all, has taken me as her replacement-youngest while Diego is in Germany. Every day, she reminds me to have fruits and vegetables, checks up on my plans and schedules, asks me about school, and warns me about the dangers of this city.
For the most part, my host mother is a very serious woman. She is the one in the front row of aerobics, sweating to the oldies. She is a dentist and doesn't laugh much. She's practical and focused and often worried, especially about me.
However, this serious, focused, ho-hum image of her has been shattered in my mind. She has gone Christmas nutty, and I, personally, love it.
Our house is much like Mirta. There are some pretty colors, sure, but the floors are a dull white-grey stone, the curtains are white, the paintings are of fruit and religious things. It's mellow. However, she has spent probably 4 straight days decorating for the holidays. We have an artificial tree that she decorated and hung with lights. Every table that's not glass, and even a couple that are, have red tablecloths. The kitchen tablecloth is green with bright red place mats. There are wreaths, mistletoe, figurines, and miles of lights. At night, we turn off all the lamps and track lighting and things like that and plug in the decorative ones, and it's really bright, there's not much difference between the two. Our nativity scene is at least 20-25 figurines and 2 ft. squared.
Of course, this got me thinking about the holidays back home. Thanksgiving passed quietly, we reserved 20 minutes of Spanish class for a thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday and got Thursday free. We made plans to go out thursday to our favorite burger place, El Capi, and I'd forgotten it was thanksgiving until about 8:00 that night. We prayed thanks for the blessings we have and petitioned for help of the massive poor population here.
However, something makes me think maybe Christmas will be harder to miss...
In other news, I sat down a few days ago and did the math: My exchange year is exactly 300 days long! Today is day 105, 35.3% down, 64.7% to go. Spanish classes will be finished in just over a week, and then we have our trip to Quito, the capital in the highlands. It's really cold there! I'm going to have to bring my coat, sneakers, jeans, etc.
Speaking of weather... today we have a high of 84, low of 73. Have some hot cocoa for me!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Beenie: This will all be over too soon for you. It may not feel that way now, but you will have many years to lament counting days and wishing this window of time away. I am so proud of the courage you have shown to go. When you struggled with the shot put, or soccer as a girl, I told you that you would one day find the venue where your exceptional gifts would stand out.
The courage to pack your bags at 17 and leave for 300 days. The compassion to consider the less fortunate. The personality to adapt to another household. This trip has been your time to showcase your gifts. I admire you very much. Maybe I will grow up to be like you.
Now study hard, and be IN the moment. The days will pass whether you count them or not.
Peace,
Dad
Post a Comment