Life in San Cristóbal
Hey there my few faithful readers! Just wanted to shoot an update out to let you know how life is going out here in San Cristóbal, my home for this three week period.
I can honestly say that I’ve been LOVING my time out here so far. It’s so tranquil out here and the people are wonderful. My family is awesome- I’m living with Olman Ceciliano Núñez and his wife Noemy; they have four children, one of whom lives full time at home (Luis Angel, 17) and another who is there part of the time (Amanda, 20). As I’ve said before, it’s really cool having a brother who’s close to my age; we’ve been able to chat a lot about sports and music, two of both of our favorite things. Even cooler, he has a desire to go to college in the states, so we’ve spent several evenings with helping each other with the other’s language. It’s been really cool.
I’ve been having a blast working at the school as well. I don’t have any set role, which is nice in a lot of ways- I just come in and do whatever needs done for the day. Some days I help the principal, Don Esteban, with computer/paperwork type things; other days I help a teacher by writing on the dry-erase board for him/her; today I spent my morning grading Home-Ec exams. I’m really falling in love with the kids, too. I’ve been playing soccer with them pretty much every day at recess, and the kids even invited me to play with them on the weekends. I’m slowly but surely learning more and more names, and they always want me on their team, despite the fact that most of them are better than me at soccer. It’s often challenging to understand them because they speak SO quickly, but I’m getting better at it.
Like every interaction I’ve had down here, it’s really taught me a TON about valuing the people you’re with as if they’re the most important people in the world. I feel like I’m always the point of attention in a room- everyone always wants to include me or talk to me or make sure that I’m happy. And while it’s a little overwhelming at times for someone who borderlines the introvert/extrovert spectrum, I love it too.
Under a month left, which is really hard to believe. Being here in San Cristóbal with Luis and the rest of my family has really caused me to think, for the first time on the trip, that I’m not sure I want to leave just yet. Most of me does, but in the brief time that I’ve been here already with these people has made me fall in love with them. I really do feel closer to them than I do to my San Jose host family- with whom I’ve spent 6 or 7 weeks. Crazy.
29 days and I’ll be back in the WV. Miss you all.
