Ripening

There comes a time in your Peace Corps service where you realize you can only do so much, the seed will sprout later. You realize you need to just BE with the people, don't teach them anything, because you should learn as much from THEM before you go. Your time here is quickly fleeting and you can feel it now. Our country director told us on orientation day in Washington, D.C., "the three R's of Peace Corps are resiliency, resourcefulness and relationships - relationships being the most important."

The people of Oidor mean so much to me and I will always love them. My host family may be a minor pain in the butt and it's unfortunate we just didn't "hit if off" and they drive me up the wazoo. As a result of this though, I have reached out into the community so much more. There are so many other homes here I can walk right into and feel like I'm with old friends, feel total comfort. Actually it's a town of 600 and I feel comfortable walking into any home just to say hello. It's amazing how much I love some of these señora's and children. In such a short time I feel a part of this organism, a player in the daily destiny.

Lucy feeds me the yummiest dinners then we sit outside and laugh 'til the cows come home. Lucy's sons, Neizer, Stevie and Kenji, call me "hermana" and I call them my brothers too. They are wonderful little balls of energy. I love making the trek over to her house. The "trek" being 5 minutes of walking down the road but I walk through this open space with houses to the right of me and all the children run out their front doors screaming, "Gioconda!!" I try to take mental snapshots of them waving with big ol' smiles on their angelic faces.

Maria Antonieta is another woman that cracks me up beyond belief, always nagging me about not having a boyfriend and how we have to find me one. We bake chocolate chip cookies in her house then eat them and place our chairs outside and we look at the stars for hours. Conversing about family, life problems, the future. Her 4 year old son, Sami, calls me his girlfriend and gets jealous if I hang out with other kids. It's hysterical.

Liz taught me how to make ceviche and has such a warm, giving spirit. She is humble and happy.

Esther, my neighbor, is sarcastic as ever. I love that we are close enough to give each other shit.

Helson, Esther's 12 year old son, is a little man, already walking around like the world is in the palm of his hands. We play games on my iPod in the hammock late into the night. He asks me questions about girls, his future. I'm honored he looks to me for an opinion.

Gera is a smart, moral 15 year old girl that comes over to watch movies, make American dishes with me. Now she will live in another town to go to college but she was a good friend my first year here.

Rebecca, 10 years old, goes running with me sometimes. She doesn't ever think she can do it then she does. She inspires me for always trying her best.

There are 6 year old twins that live nearby, Aline and Synder, and they'll come over to tear my room to shreds then we'll lay in the hammock and I'll sing them funny songs and they'll just giggle like the cutest things in the world.

Bianca...oh Bianca, poor sweet Bianca. That one's going to be something when she grows up. She climbs everything, is loud and will make her presence known. She's a little too smart for her own good. I've taken her under my wing because her family is an absolute shitshow. Abusive, alcoholic dad, you know the storyline.

Gisleni, "Gigi," doesn't talk much with her mouth but she uses her hands and eyes. She is precious. So innocent and loveable. I don't have as much patience for the other kids like I do with Gigi. She's the only one I let stay in my room without me there. She likes this one Scooby Doo DVD I put on for her. She likes when I put mascara on her eyes and Chapstick on her lips. She wears my purse and sunglasses and walks around like she owns the place. I will always have a special place for her in my heart.

This list could go on forever. The children capture my heart the most. Innocent enough to make me believe the world is good and everything happens for a reason.