(A traditional dance, La Cueca: performed by dos ninos after a welcome speech.)
La plaza de armas en el centro.
We were finally presented to our host families this afternoon.
When I first entered the house, it hit me like a slap in the face: this will be my home for 6 months. My eyes were watering when the mother of the house was showing me my room and I couldnt understand anything she was saying. It was all very overwhelming. Every conversation was in spanish today (It was extra difficult because I was spoiled in Santiago and could get by very easily with poco espanol because I was with Americans and english speaking chileans!) I do have a background in Spanish from a few courses, but I am no where near fluency. The family I will live with for 6 months only speaks Catalan, actually. Ellos necesitan much patiencia!
Yo estoy viviendo en una casa blanca. Their house resides just outside the main square and only a 5 minute walking distance from the school I will be teaching. I have my own room in their house which includes a small closet and bookshelf space. Also, I am capable of connecting to the internet at any time of the day for any amount of time. I believe that it will be a very convenient place to rest my head.
The family has been very hospitable, loving, and patient with me. I have discovered a few things about the family, somehow, through my broken spanish! First, the family I am living with is very conservative and formal. They are protestant, not Catholic. They do not drink. They cook plenty of fish and veggies (which I have been craving after huge carb intakes in the hostel) They like simplicity and genuine conversation.
Curico is already beginning to feel like a home after tonight. My favorite part of the day was talking with the eldest in the house, Sergio. He is a wise and gentle 76 year old man with a broad smile. When Sergio, his daughter Elisa and I were grocery shopping this evening, Sergio told me that I should call him "papa" and then, Elisa said that I should call her "hermana". I am very lucky to already be accepted into their family.
1 comment:
It sounds like you were warmly welcomed into a very hospitable and caring community. Also, it is so nice that your host family has already started calling you family. We can tell Papa is a very special man.
I see you are weaving more and more Spanish into your blog. Pretty soon I am not sure if I will be able to read it. :) I am confident you will pick up Spanish quickly, with your strong aptitude and desire to communicate.
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