Living with the Familia

What's it like to live with another family, outside of one's own, one's country, and one's culture? To become slowly part of the net, the day to day, and to be missed when spending a meal away outside of the house? Many things come to mind, most are warm and fuzzy- i get a huge, kiss and 'happy to see you eyes' from my little hermana, a handshake or high 5 from my hermano, who's ready to get the games goin, a peck for mi madre and an inquiry into my day of classes, promptly followed by a detailed account of what i ate for lunch (i have yet to satisfy her fear of me becoming 'flaco' under her care...as i play juegos with my hermanitos (board or ball games inside the casa) madre is scurrying abuot the kitchen because 'tony Must be dying of hunger after hardly eating all day!'..we help her set the table and await our padre to come home from work. it's fascinating how i've developed this eagerness as well- as he is the least known and most intriguing member of the fam for me..a medico in public health with a hand in govt policy making...a former mild-revolutionary, as my madre whispered to me, running from the policia and protesting..passionate about public health and dedicated to his family...

and here i draw all the possible parallels to my own family- some come from rational comparisons, but most so blatantly smack me and send my mind marveling at the coincidences and the connections...My mothers- always cold, reserving the hands up the back as joking punishment, always feeding me or in the process of doing so, wonderful mothers...my fathers- family men, traditional but (eek) 'cool'...passionate and selfless. My sisters- both have cow slippers and share(d) very similar 12 yo faces and smiles, braces and all...my brothers- always moving, always the 'life of the room.' more or less timid in the face of new experiences, but will always be heard above the rest...hehe. okay, before i head to class, a note about the other feelings about this new family addition...

because i slid so easily into the family unit, i can't help feeling a sense of betrayal, though i know it isn't...it probably would've felt different if the structure and personalities (and cow situation) had been distanced...but it feels so homey...so strange. i will surely miss my new family as i head off to diabetes camp to work with the ninos, but for sure i won't forget their welcoming into their own, and of course the hugs, kisses, and high fives.

much love to my family, extended and attached
un beso