After reading the comments-posts from my sisters Danielle and Amanda on my last blog... I got my first real feeling of homesickness. Being here is such a roller coaster of emotions. Everyday I am learning new things. Before I came, I feared the bucket bathes, the bugs, the intermittent electricity, the unknown. Now, I can honestly say I enjoy bucket baths and how each pour of cold water momentarily takes my breath away. I still don´t like the bugs, and my legs look like I have the chicken pox, it never ceases to amaze me how big they can grow (and oh. my. god the toads are like squirrel sized) and how ear piercing the sounds are at night. The canton sounds even a little bit more tranquilo when the lights go out ... and the best part of it all is that I never know what the next day is going to bring.
Other times are hard. I still can´t get over how dirty my toes are ALL THE TIME. and there´s just nothing you can do about it. Its dirty, its dusty, when it rains its muddy. You just have to accept dirty feet. But it sucks. I´m still not great at spanish and campo spanish is so hard. The slang makes certain sentences impossible to decipher and I´m pretty sure my counterpart is making fun of me on a regular basis. This also sucks. I just want to be able to put into words what I´m really thinking. Everyone asks you ¨how much did that cost¨ and it gets annoying. I´m sorry I spent 40 dollars on my dog but I don´t want one of the mangy, rabie breeding flea infested street hounds that you guys like to kick in the face.
Most times are confusing. You live in a beautiful countryside surrounded by mango trees, zapote trees, jacote trees... mountains, waterfalls, rivers...and yet you taint it all with garbage. The people are so happy and so friendly, yet there are an average of 13 homicides a day, making El Salvador the top 10th most dangerous country in the world. You can´t wash your hair when its cold out or you will get Gripe. You cant shower after exercize because you will get Gripe. Your dog will die if he has a bathe at night. Your dogs hair will fall out if you give him beans. If you drink too much cold water you will get fat. Certain aspects of the culture shock you will never get used to.
But the hardest part is doing things like reading my sisters comments. Danielle has been the best support I have had since making the decision to come here. It kinda surprised me... maybe because I´m used to her sticking pieces of glass in my mouth as a toddler, having fights in middle school where we would throw cat poop into each others rooms, or seeing my clothes on her in facebook pictures...recently. But I don´t think I could have done this without her.
Amanda is growing up without me and I can see that from her amazing writing skills (are you copying my papers?) and reference to *achem boys* wtf!?
Christina, where are your comments? You must be busy studying for APs ,) But I´m so sorry I can´t be there during your last year of high school and transition into college.
I miss seeing my family everyday and laughing with my friends. I miss eating out of the gallon carton of ice cream. I miss Sam even though I have a new dog. I miss having regular conversations with my Grandma that don´t always start with ¨¨Where are you again? El Salvador!?¨ I miss penne alla vodka. Filet mignon. Qtips that dont bend when you try to clean your ears. Air conditioning. The feeling of home. It´s starting to get there...but I don´t think it will ever really feel like home without the people I love around me...within arms reach.
Fortunately, I have a cell phone, I can get to the internet, and I know my family is there for me. I am lucky for many reasons. And very proud to have the family and friends that I have. Thank you all for everything... I REALLY could not be here without you.
damn it you made me tear up. but on a lighter note.. my mom told me she talked to you about the new pup! I'm pretty excited to see pictures :) we are gunna get a package together asap or we might order stuff from one of her grooming magazines and just have them send it your way. hopefully they will send it there... either way we will get it to you! It was nice to hear what you are doing over there.. it did seem pretty vacation-ish minus the squirrel sizes toads, dust, bug bites, bucket baths, no hot water.. k maybe not the most luxurious vacation but it still sounds beautiful. your blogs are amazing though, I wish I did that while I was in Europe... alright well good luck with the new pup! package will be there soon! (oh and my mom said he looks like sara?! how friggen cute)
ReplyDeleteOk couple things.... Actually three... First of all I'm pretty sure that u mustve done something verrryyy bad to deserve glass in your mouth because I tend to be a veryyy fair person.. 2. I totally forgot about the catpoop war... That was awesome... 3. Wearing your clothes should flatter you since it just means that u have good taste... There will be more of that to come :)
ReplyDeleteheyy jaim
ReplyDeleteLOL=shoving glass in ur mouth, and i thought dan was tough on meee. yes, i do have impressive writing skills. or should i say, imposing writing skillssss...jkkk. and what's achem?? christina wanted me to tell u that she broke her computer so shes not usually online ,,for anything. and also, she doesnt know how to follow ur blog. i told her...go to jaimeinpc blah blah, and then hit follow. but she never listened but okay. and yea, caroline was just over and insisted on writing a message to u. she feels dire....and shes like, aww i didnt get to say a gooood good bye to her. lol. an it was rlly weird cuz today, in town a drug addict asked me out. i said sureee, and i thought he knew i was joking....well turns out he wasnt and was actually serious about it. but i told him i was jokinnnn ;-). ill give u the details or should i say, niceties when im on the phone with u. u always call me when im at school and cant answer :(. rrrg and i always mmiss it. and yea, sam misses yaa. but shes not in the best mood right now cuz tomorrow's shes gettin a bathhhhhypoo. and i made a friend in 9th grade, hes rllyyyy nice :). ill give u the detailsssss soon. call me sooon. and sadly u havent been on skype; it might not work nonetheless. :(. keep updating ur blog a lot. and put pics up of barrrrroooooo up. i hope u liked my cricket storyyyy yuck. alright talk to u soooon. love yaaaa xooxo
amandaaaa posaa <3