Cultural Immersion

So, it occured to me the other day that I had not really seen any, or spoken to any other Americans in a while, save for my blog/email conversations. I think this experience is considered pretty intense! I´m not sure why I´m surprised by this, but it seems like I got by with my English while there were volunteers here, and now that they´re gone....not so much. Considering there are no other volunteers, I usually work with the a local representative of the organization, and as it turns out, I pretty much hang out with her, her family and friends in my off time. I think it is all the cause of sympathy, for my precieved loneliness. Whatever the case, it is pretty cool.

It is helping my learning curve for Spanish, becuase I am litterally not speaking English for days on end. Which is hard, considering I don´t really speak Spanish. To make matters more complicated, they speak Quechwan, the language of the natives, to each other. I didn´t really expect this to happen, but now that it is- I´m just going to roll with it. Because in the end I am getting a real cultural immersion expierence, while other volunteers are probably just hanging out with each other. Which is also fun, but I think I prefer the company of the families for the holidays.

I´m spending Christmass, which they celebrate on midnight tomorrow with their family. There are two boys, about 10 and 12, they are pretty fun to hang out with, and are pretty patient with my developing Spanish skills. We were all walking around town last night, as most families do here post dinner (which I love), and the kids were all googely eyed over the latest toys. I´m already schemeing about what to get them. I´m excited to surprise the boys with gifts, and to say thanks, in a round about way to the family for looking after me, as they have come to do. I have already cleared this with the powers that be, and it has been confirmed that it would be a nice gesture.

All in all, it won´t be the same without my family and friends. But, I knew that going in. And this, I think, is a good alternative.

To all those I will miss, much love, I will be thinking of you.