Well, I've been here for about 4 days, so it seemed like a good time to write about my host family here in Cuenca. I had limited information when I arrived, just that my family had two sons and a mother named Clarita. I had an address but puting it into Google Maps didn't really tell me much since I knew nothing about Cuenca before arriving. So I packed the gifts I bought blindly (DC mug, Old Bay, and Orioles hats) and hoped everything would work out
I was nervous that the whole family wouldn't like their gifts but they all got so excited and we even took a picture with the boys in their Orioles baseball caps. I'm so glad that they are so kind and welcoming. Even though I am still nervous and awkward, I know that we will figure it out and things will be very normal soon.
Like many other Latin American cultures, the family is very improtant here in Ecuador. My family consists mainly of an immediate family who live in this apartment: Juan, Clarita, Daniel, y Juan Diego. But it also includes la abuela (the grandmother) who lives in the apartment next door, and many tías (aunts) and other family members I have not yet met. The front door to the apartment stays open most of the time so that we can come and go between here and la abuela's apartment. This is particularly important now since I am living in Juan Diego's room and he is staying over at la abuela's. I haven't quite figured out the family roles yet, but I think I will in time.
This is my first long-term experience with a host family, and in a foreign country no less. I spent overnights in the US with many families, but there was no language barrier and if we did not "click" it did not matter since I left the next day anyways. This situation is more delicate since I will be here a month and I want to make sure I don't offend anyone. I have to remember to both be myself and be respectful. I know they have already welcomed me in and consider me part of the family. My host mom calls me "mi hija" (my daughter) and Juan Diego, who is 6, hugs me all the time and constantly wants to play. I think la abuela is warming up to me, but she wasn't too pleased when I bought Juan Diego some chocolates. It wasn't the chocolates that seemed to concern her, but more that I paid for them with my own money. It seems there may be a bit of pride when it comes to money, in general not just in my family, but I will have to see if this is true or just a few experiences.
Today, I ate two lunches, to give you an idea about the way that Ecuadorian moms can be. I ate lunch at 12 pm with the doctor I am working with at a small cafe near the subcenter of health. My host mom called me at 1:30 to see if I was coming home for lunch, and when I said no she told me she would save it for later. So when I got home, she asked if I was hungry. I said a little, so maybe I would just eat some of the food she saved. I was presented with a full lunch: fish, rice, salad, a pear, and a smoothie. And I ate almost all of it, because it is delicious and you never want to insult your host mother's food. Also, I'm pretty sure she used the Old Bay I brought her on the fish. So how could I not eat it?
This is a bit jumbled, but I'm sure I'll add more things later. Adios for now.
I was nervous that the whole family wouldn't like their gifts but they all got so excited and we even took a picture with the boys in their Orioles baseball caps. I'm so glad that they are so kind and welcoming. Even though I am still nervous and awkward, I know that we will figure it out and things will be very normal soon.
Like many other Latin American cultures, the family is very improtant here in Ecuador. My family consists mainly of an immediate family who live in this apartment: Juan, Clarita, Daniel, y Juan Diego. But it also includes la abuela (the grandmother) who lives in the apartment next door, and many tías (aunts) and other family members I have not yet met. The front door to the apartment stays open most of the time so that we can come and go between here and la abuela's apartment. This is particularly important now since I am living in Juan Diego's room and he is staying over at la abuela's. I haven't quite figured out the family roles yet, but I think I will in time.
This is my first long-term experience with a host family, and in a foreign country no less. I spent overnights in the US with many families, but there was no language barrier and if we did not "click" it did not matter since I left the next day anyways. This situation is more delicate since I will be here a month and I want to make sure I don't offend anyone. I have to remember to both be myself and be respectful. I know they have already welcomed me in and consider me part of the family. My host mom calls me "mi hija" (my daughter) and Juan Diego, who is 6, hugs me all the time and constantly wants to play. I think la abuela is warming up to me, but she wasn't too pleased when I bought Juan Diego some chocolates. It wasn't the chocolates that seemed to concern her, but more that I paid for them with my own money. It seems there may be a bit of pride when it comes to money, in general not just in my family, but I will have to see if this is true or just a few experiences.
Today, I ate two lunches, to give you an idea about the way that Ecuadorian moms can be. I ate lunch at 12 pm with the doctor I am working with at a small cafe near the subcenter of health. My host mom called me at 1:30 to see if I was coming home for lunch, and when I said no she told me she would save it for later. So when I got home, she asked if I was hungry. I said a little, so maybe I would just eat some of the food she saved. I was presented with a full lunch: fish, rice, salad, a pear, and a smoothie. And I ate almost all of it, because it is delicious and you never want to insult your host mother's food. Also, I'm pretty sure she used the Old Bay I brought her on the fish. So how could I not eat it?
This is a bit jumbled, but I'm sure I'll add more things later. Adios for now.
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