Sigh. And yes, I have told EVERYONE here that I saw him yesterday.
So, last night, I got off the bus and got my suitcase out from under the bus and made my way through the station and down the hill, over a block (slightly uphill) and up part of another block. I reached up and rang the doorbell twice, like I always used to do and stood there expectantly thinking, oh, it will be good to see an Altotongüense!
Nothing.
So, I rang the doorbell again. Now they live far back in this place... It's like a series of houses (apartments, if you like), making an outline of a square, with the inside cut out and grass and even a pool (although-- really? swimming here?), though it's not that big and would be filled with a hose and not treated with chlorine, I'm pretty sure.
Still nothing.
Repeat this process for the next ten minutes, with the buzzes getting longer. I saw one of their neighbors stick her head out and look around. I felt pretty bad for them, because I could hear the buzzer outside, so I know they heard it.
Finally there came footsteps. As it turns out, they had confused the date and thought I was arriving later in the week. It's kinda dangerous to open the door at night, and even if it weren't, there are plenty of kids who go by and hit the doorbells just for fun and keep walking on.
Even though they weren't expecting me (last night, at least), I still got a warm welcome, and have continued to get warm welcomes from everyone today.
Today, I traversed through the whole city (and I feel it now) and have seen SO many people (I think more than I would have in a regular day when I lived here). From many people, even just acquaintances (think the lady at the post office), I received warm, sincere welcomes. It was nice. But it was great to go back to everyone today and see them, talk to them, find out how they're doing and what's going on with their families.
Overall, it was a most enjoyable day.
I even got tacos! The lady I'm staying with knows that I (well, everyone) love her tacos and so she pulled out the stops and made some for me today. Her daughter wants me now to come more often :)
It's so weird trekking through here, because it's like I'm home, but at the same time I don't live here anymore. It's been 5 months since I've been here and it's kinda interesting to view it all from the "outside" now that I'm not involved so much, ya know?
Anywho: 2 things I have forgotten since being here:
1- how irritating jeans wet half-way up your shins are (and the fact that they likely won't be dry for the morning)
2- how absolutely beautiful a warm shower feels at the end of a somewhat chilly day
Good night friends, I'm going to bed!!
So, last night, I got off the bus and got my suitcase out from under the bus and made my way through the station and down the hill, over a block (slightly uphill) and up part of another block. I reached up and rang the doorbell twice, like I always used to do and stood there expectantly thinking, oh, it will be good to see an Altotongüense!
Nothing.
So, I rang the doorbell again. Now they live far back in this place... It's like a series of houses (apartments, if you like), making an outline of a square, with the inside cut out and grass and even a pool (although-- really? swimming here?), though it's not that big and would be filled with a hose and not treated with chlorine, I'm pretty sure.
Still nothing.
Repeat this process for the next ten minutes, with the buzzes getting longer. I saw one of their neighbors stick her head out and look around. I felt pretty bad for them, because I could hear the buzzer outside, so I know they heard it.
Finally there came footsteps. As it turns out, they had confused the date and thought I was arriving later in the week. It's kinda dangerous to open the door at night, and even if it weren't, there are plenty of kids who go by and hit the doorbells just for fun and keep walking on.
Even though they weren't expecting me (last night, at least), I still got a warm welcome, and have continued to get warm welcomes from everyone today.
Today, I traversed through the whole city (and I feel it now) and have seen SO many people (I think more than I would have in a regular day when I lived here). From many people, even just acquaintances (think the lady at the post office), I received warm, sincere welcomes. It was nice. But it was great to go back to everyone today and see them, talk to them, find out how they're doing and what's going on with their families.
Overall, it was a most enjoyable day.
I even got tacos! The lady I'm staying with knows that I (well, everyone) love her tacos and so she pulled out the stops and made some for me today. Her daughter wants me now to come more often :)
It's so weird trekking through here, because it's like I'm home, but at the same time I don't live here anymore. It's been 5 months since I've been here and it's kinda interesting to view it all from the "outside" now that I'm not involved so much, ya know?
Anywho: 2 things I have forgotten since being here:
1- how irritating jeans wet half-way up your shins are (and the fact that they likely won't be dry for the morning)
2- how absolutely beautiful a warm shower feels at the end of a somewhat chilly day
Good night friends, I'm going to bed!!
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