I cried when I left Bellingham and I’m going to cry to leave Aguacatan. The hardest goodbye I’ve ever given was letting go of Danny at SeaTac. I had a headache swelling up from an emotional day. I felt that same headache start to creep up today. The feeling of change which I learned after many years is not my strong point. I also know that I prefer to stay in one place and make close friends opposed to see many places and make few real friends. I have cultivated such wonderful relationships here. I have only been here four weeks and I can’t walk down the street without someone giving me a hug. What a wonderful feeling! I wish I could have it all. I wish I could have the hospitality and gratitude that I feel in Guatemala in the States. Doing multiple visits at people’s homes in the same afternoon, right after I’ve finished lunch, is becoming a problem as they all wish to serve me something to eat! My host mom laughs because every day I come back with tomatoes, limes, oranges, or whatever else people have in their yard. Today I even managed to bring home tamales from a young women I didn't even know (or maybe remember because I've met too many nice people at this point). Yet saying no to these hardworking and generous people is near impossible. I wish I could have my family and friends from home be in this experience (although Skype is a pretty close second).
Last weekend I went to the dedication for my tocaya, my namesake. The kids all call my by name and give me hugs with their beautiful skirts and blouses. They can’t stop staring at me with huge smiles. We then proceeded to take about 100 photos, some with only women, others with just men and some in regular clothes, some in traje, etc. Suz, Ryan and I were almost in tears laughing at how excited they all were to take photos with us. It is these memorable experiences that I wish I have at home. But then I feel so fortunate that I do live in country where people congregate from all over the world. How lucky, that I don’t have to get on a 12 hour plane to hear Awakateko since Aguacatecos have immigrated to Washington. Although my head is starting to hurt as I think about saying goodbyes, I have met many people who have relatives in the Bellingham area and I look forward to meeting them very soon!
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| Karina and I after baby Kati's dedication. I originally met Karina at the National Hospital in Huehue when she was about 9 months pregnant. |
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| Me and baby Kati, mi tocaya |
