PCV: Paid Caribbean Vacation

Part of me thinks that I should wait until I can a.) remember all the names of my new family and b.) pronounce all the names of my new family, but I figure I will tell you how things all work now and figure out all the details later.

My host mom is Ms. Anita. She is a nice woman who mostly keeps to herself and runs a small shop that is connected to the house. My host dad is Arturo. This is a man's man if there ever was one. I think we are going to be best of friends. He just recently was forced into retirement after he lost his job after 30 years due to a change in the political powers that be. He is a short, stocky man who has a chest as wide as a small truck. If I ever get trapped under a fallen tree in a storm, I want this guy to be there to save my life. I dont care how old he is, he can take care of the job. He is also the sweetest man who's major joys in life revolve around his grand kids.

Anita and Arturo have 4 daughters ranging in age from 24-32. The 3 youngest are married with kids that make up 5 grand kids in total. Amilita (Ami) is the oldest daughter and she lives at home and takes care of the children during the day while the other sisters work. Malani is next, she is married to Abell and has 2 children. Abellito is 9 and Zilani is 5. Milani is a teacher at a high school in another village. I have limited exposure to them thus far. Ina (I am not sure of this name) is next. She lives at home in a room that is an extension to the house with her husband (name I cant remember) and her 4 year old daughter Coralis. Ina teaches 6th form which is basically like Junior College.

Then there is Rosi (its short for something I cant remember). She is 24 and has 2 kids. Her son Jaden is 10 months old and her daughter is 3 named (cant remember). She is the 24 year old that is married but currently separated from her husband and living with Milani. She is at the house a lot and seems to be my sidekick. Ms. Anita says its because we are close in age and she can try to be young again even though she has children.

We talk in broken Spanish and broken English most of the time laughing at one another because I look like an idiot but it's all to be expected in a culture that I have no idea what is going on. Last night we sang Karaoke to songs only I knew in English but they tried their best. They kept telling me I wasn't saying the words right but I am the one that knows most of these songs by heart and the one that speaks English fluently so it was a fun argument to have.

I have it more posh here than I did in San Ignacio to some degree. I have my own room (which they made 15 years ago to host another PCV, Karen, during her training with a private bathroom. From of the looks of the house, it seems that every time the family gets bigger, they just simply build another room onto the house, knock out a wall and put in a door. Easy as that. The best thing about my room is the bed. I think its a king sized bed, I'm not too sure on how the sizes work. I know I'm short and all but I cant touch any other side of the bed if I am touching another side of the bed. Its longer than I am tall both in length and in width.

I think the biggest difference between the Trapp's and the Cal's is the way the host family goes about treating me. The Trapp's have been to the States many times and have family there. They understand American culture and basically let me be unless I asked them something. I lived there, but mostly it was a small conversation here and there with food in between. The Cal's dont have a lot of exposure outside to the USA besides a few volunteers they had 15 years ago. I got in the house and it was like they were looking at an alien for the first time. They asked so many questions, wanted to see pictures, and were so much more interested than the other host family. I feel that I will get more out of this host family and they'll definitely help me integrate more into the village by helping me to learn Spanish among other things.
I realize the only thing that is missing are pictures. Well, as you last read... I am a genius and broke my camera. So those will have to wait. I'd say send me one and I'll send you money but the duties on electronics in this country are through the roof so I'll pass. I hear they are cheap in Mexico and then I can just smuggle it in the country like everyone else.

Until next time, enjoy the playoffs in baseball and enjoy being in a country that understands what baseball is.