What can I say? I love it here! Tonight is the first time I've spoken (written) english in a bout 36 hours...Incredible. I am completely out of my comfort zone, but somehow my host family totally makes up for it!
That is definitely the best part of this world, the family community. Manuel y Linda Chavez, welcomed me with brazos abiertas. Before I could even wonder what this experience would be like, I was at their dinner table and they were feeding me comida tipíco de Puebla until I begged "Quedo Satisfacion", haha, it was exquisito!
Here is my favorite part...they are the parents of 3 children, and also have grande familias, mucho hermanos y hermanas, and it is very important to them that we spend time getting to know one another. So in the first two day of this adventure, I have met most of the children, and today we went to a fiesta for the cumpleaños de una nieta, (he turned 9, so cute). Only half the family was there, but there were almost 30 of us in the small and humble home of the Abuelos. I ate so much and did my best to communicate with all of the amazingly and happy personas! The grandfather kept saying, "Este es su casa" with a wide grin, not so toothy but adorable all the same, and I would smile back and respond "muchos gracias abuelo" , haha.
If I was ever curious about the meaning of charity and hospitality, then all my questions have been answered by such an unbelievably kind familia in Puebla, Mexico. Although, today my head felt as if it was going to explode, because I only spoke and listened to beautiful spanish 24/7. It is interesting when I want to express how I am feeling, and share my opinion, but can not gather the words! Anyways, Manuel y yo somehow managed to sit down at a cafe, over some coffee, and discuss the importance of accepting human beings for who they are and what they believe. In other words, to be "abierto". We also discussed the economic situation of the el Mundo, but again I was stifled by my lack of communication, haha.
I just ate frijoles y tortas con queso y salsa. Then delighted in a very sweet fruit called Mamey, it is almost like a cross between a sweet potato, avocado, and cantolope, but very good! My first day of school is tomorrow, and I must rise early, so I bid you a dew, and will write again soon!
Paz a fuera,
Layne
p.s. Manuel y Linda are in the right of the photo, the little niña in the photo is Day the daughter of Manuel jr, and Lucia. She might be one of the most adorable youngins I've ever met. She speaks more english than anyone else I have met here! Reminds me of Sydney in her energy and humor...Adios!
