For a funny talking gringa, I have to tell you my first birthday here was bien chévere (that's Peruvian slang for "freakin' amazing"). After the charla in the morning, we came back to the health center to a mini-party in one of the classrooms — complete with a cake, sweet potato and banana chips, Inca Kola, Pepsi and gifts. It was a total surprise, and it threw me a little. Forgive the non-creative wordage here, but I felt so loved!. Which is strange, if you think about it. I've been here a month. Six weeks ago, none of these people were in my life, and now they are a cherished part of my experience here.
What's even more is that our tech trainers, Javier and Jorge, were the instigators and planners of the whole affair. Our teachers. I'm one of 47, and they took the time (in the middle of the day) to celebrate my birthday with me. I was, like, wow ...
When we got back to the training center, there was more singing, and another volunteer even brought me flowers (Thank you, D!). In my language class, my instructor handed me a gift-wrapped box of —wait for it — KRAFT Mac and Cheese. The GOOD stuff!
There's more if you can believe it.
That night, I came home to be with my host family. Some of the volunteers came over to watch the presidential debate, and my host mom and sister pulled out one of the most beautiful cakes I've ever seen (FRUIT was on top of it. FRUIT). My stomach was screaming, No! Not more cake! But my eyes were shouting, FRUIT on CHOCOLATE CAKE. Dude, that's awesome! Before lighting the candle, my host father stopped everything and told me how glad he was I am with them and how it feels like I'm another daughter in the family. [cue: "aww!"] I blew out my candle, made my wish. And had a little moment.
It was awesome.
I won't lie to you. I had a brief period (before the cake, after the Mac & Cheese), where I had to duck into my room and allow the reality of not being with my family and friends hit me like a freight train. It hurt. My whole body ached to be with them. But later, when I shook off the tears and was standing among the crowd in my very Peruvian living room, something clicked.
I don't know why it took so long to sink in — the whole day, really, had been leading up to it — but it was at that point that it hit me: This is my life now.
These people, crowded around me eating possibly the most delicious cake ever, are my friends, my local support system, my Peruvian family. They're it. From here on out. And no matter how many more birthdays I have, this one — non-monunmental #23 — will be one that I'm always going to remember. And as much as I miss everyone back home already, I am lucky (and so excited) to have these people in my life.
What's even more is that our tech trainers, Javier and Jorge, were the instigators and planners of the whole affair. Our teachers. I'm one of 47, and they took the time (in the middle of the day) to celebrate my birthday with me. I was, like, wow ...
When we got back to the training center, there was more singing, and another volunteer even brought me flowers (Thank you, D!). In my language class, my instructor handed me a gift-wrapped box of —wait for it — KRAFT Mac and Cheese. The GOOD stuff!
There's more if you can believe it.
That night, I came home to be with my host family. Some of the volunteers came over to watch the presidential debate, and my host mom and sister pulled out one of the most beautiful cakes I've ever seen (FRUIT was on top of it. FRUIT). My stomach was screaming, No! Not more cake! But my eyes were shouting, FRUIT on CHOCOLATE CAKE. Dude, that's awesome! Before lighting the candle, my host father stopped everything and told me how glad he was I am with them and how it feels like I'm another daughter in the family. [cue: "aww!"] I blew out my candle, made my wish. And had a little moment.
It was awesome.
I won't lie to you. I had a brief period (before the cake, after the Mac & Cheese), where I had to duck into my room and allow the reality of not being with my family and friends hit me like a freight train. It hurt. My whole body ached to be with them. But later, when I shook off the tears and was standing among the crowd in my very Peruvian living room, something clicked.
I don't know why it took so long to sink in — the whole day, really, had been leading up to it — but it was at that point that it hit me: This is my life now.
These people, crowded around me eating possibly the most delicious cake ever, are my friends, my local support system, my Peruvian family. They're it. From here on out. And no matter how many more birthdays I have, this one — non-monunmental #23 — will be one that I'm always going to remember. And as much as I miss everyone back home already, I am lucky (and so excited) to have these people in my life.
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