After working at Tres Mariposas, we went to eat lunch with our host families for the first time. This was so exciting and scary at the same time. I didn't know what to expect and I was nervous for how the family would respond to us and how we would respond to different things such as the food, and the houses' structure especially because it was rainy horribly and we were previously warned that in La Cienaga (where our host families were located), the area in which the houses are become flooded when it rains. it was raining so bad today that we took a cab to our families house.
When we arrived, the house looked better than I had originally imagined. It had a better structure than other houses in La Cienaga. Our host mother greeted us with a huge smile and Hola! as she prepared the last bits of our meal. When it was done she told us we were able to indulge in what would be a very tasty meal. at Lunch we practiced our spanish with her by telling what we liked about the meal and how thankful we were that she prepared our meal. We briefly interacted with some of her children. I actually was able to get the youngest child(1 years old) to come to me and let me hold him. When it was time for us to leave he gave me a huge hug and a besos! This moment was so heart warning to me because it was like a welcoming into the whole family because we were all surprised by his actions!
Today was so humbling, my "warrior" flip flops that brought me through kyaking and various other adventures throughout the city of Cabarete broke on me as I went to make an exit from my host families' house. As I thought about what to do on my muddy trail back to the school, my host mother came running out the house with a pair of "like new" flip flops for me to wear.
This event was so humbling because how can a mother of 9 with almost nothing of her own, give me her last. I'm so appreciative of her and her great act of kindness because I certainly did not want to walk a mile back to school with a missing shoe in a swampy, rocky road. This has caused me to think of what can I do for her in return to show my gratitude for her kindness. Hopefully when we go shopping in Santiago I can give her a brand new pair of sturdy shoes.
P.S. Please share ideas on how I can return the favor to this wonderful woman!
-Jasmine, Very grateful and humbled