La Familia

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One week ago from today I was sitting around my kitchen table with friends and family having one of my last dinners in Vermont. I remember feeling scared and nervous. When my friends said goodnight I felt anxious and sad. I remember thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?" How am I going to say good bye to my friends and family and to my home. However, one week later here I am sitting in my own bedroom in my new family's house in Ecuador, and yes I have wifi! I know that I am being spoiled but it sure is nice. With all the changes and challenges that I have faced in the last week, having easy internet access is comforting.

This past Saturday we arrived at our training center, El cuerpa de paz, Peace Corps in Spanish, early in the morning. I arrived with anxiety and apprehension for what the day would bring. Today was the day that I would be picked up by my host family. How was I going to do this. My spanish is not up to par. How will they understand me? How will I understand them? Will I like them? Will they like me? Where will I live? These are only a few of the questions that constantly ran through my head. For others this wasn't so scary, but for me who has never lived with anyone but my own friends and family this was a huge step, a huge jump outside my comfort zone. However, as a good friend always tells me, "Step back, take a breather, and relax". So, that is what I did. There was nothing else I could do because it was going to happen no matter what. Finally, the moment was here. I was given a piece of paper that said Paige and my host family had one that said Fisher. Our challenge was to find one another in a crowd of many. I searched and searched until finally, I heard "Fisher, Fisher Fisher!" I turned to find four Ecuadorians smiling warmly and brightly at me. I was instantly greeted with a kiss on the cheek and a hug from each one. At that moment my anxiousness melted away because I knew I had over come yet another hurdle in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer.

My host family includes mi madre Anita, mi padre Henry, mi hermano (brother) Steven, and mi hermana (sister) Carolina. They are some of the warmest and happiest people I have ever encountered and I couldn't have asked for better. My host mom refers to me as her daughter and truly cares about my safety and well-being. My host dad loves to laugh and joke around. I am constantly laughing. My host sister is 21 and helps me so much, and although very shy my host brother is very sweet and kind. I am astounished how easily they accepted me into their home and into their family. On the first day I was taken to meet the whole family including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends, and all of them greeted me with the same warmness as my host family had done earlier. I was so scared to feel alone. How silly of me to forget how important family and friends are to the Spanish culture and this definately includes the Ecuadorian culture. I have only been with them since Saturday and already my Spanish has improved and already I feel like a part of their family. They also have a dog named Daisy who they call Daisy loca or Daisy crazy :)

Today as all of us Americans gathered at the training center for classes, I didn't hear a single negative thing about anyones host family. It reminded me of the natural good in people. Here we are foreighners coming into a new country with new cultures and language and the wonderful people of Tumbaco have accepted us into their homes and most importantly into their families. This experience has been a reminder to me that where you are from doesn't matter because in the end family is family and friends are friends.

Love to all,
Paige