Sunday Sunday Sunday!

March 22, 2009

Today marks one week living with my host family, which is strange because I feel like we have known each other for years. Last night I had girls' night with my host mother, because she was mad at Papa for going out to party after work without her. First we hung out at abuela’s house with all of Papa’s extended family and the neighbors. While Mama and everyone else ate hamburgers, hotdogs, tacos, and french fries, abuela (grandma) pulled me aside and offered me some black bean soup with a boiled egg, which I was obviously THRILLED about. She said, pointing to the porch where everyone else was eating, “I know, that out there is garbage, this is food.” Finally, someone who understands!!! After hanging out at abuela’s house, Mama and I walked the 2 blocks home to have our girls' night (Papa was going out without Mama after work, which she was less than pleased about). We had a good time eating dinner in her bed while watching movies on TV. We also had a conversation about the fact that I don’t really eat junk food, because she didn’t really understand why this was so. She had me tell her everything that I don’t like to eat so that she would know, which was kind of uncomfortable for me, but I was glad we were talking about it. I’m not sure how much good it will do me though, seeing as my breakfast this morning definitely included juice, cheesy bread sticks, and a plate full of thick cream (natilla) in which to dip the cheesy bread. It’s all good though because I love Mama Tica so much!

On Sundays, Mama cleans the house all day. I am trying to help as much as I can without stepping on her toes. Now I am in my room, trying to stay awake while doing work in bed (there isn’t really another place for me to work). You can’t exactly take your work to the closest Starbucks, or anywhere for that matter, since my host parents told me to never take my laptop anywhere so long as I value my life.

I was thinking about my blog the other night, realizing that I have not actually written anything of any substance, but that is coming. In my next post, I’m going to write more about the Child, Youth and Families Program, and the kind of work that I might be doing after training.