I am the entertainer

I imagine myself to be a great entertainer. I mean this sincerely. I like to imagine how many laughs I provide the kids in my family. Here I am a grown adult of 29, and I can never fully communicate what I want to say to them. I think it’s hard as a kid to understand why someone of my age and maturity (wink wink) cannot speak their language. I literally can’t understand anything they say. And they try so hard to help me and to listen to me, but I get flustered when I talk to the kids because I am weird. I imagine their slumber parties, right before they go to bed, like when I was a kid whispering with my cousins. Only they share stories of the moment of the day when they were stuck at the dinner table with me and no one else, and I said this funny thing, only I didn’t know that it was funny because I think I’m speaking perfect Spanish. I giggle about this every time one of them gets stuck in a room with only me and I am feeling chatty.

The kids are on their winter break from November to January 15. I wish my cousins and I had that much time to hang out when we were little. It’s so awesome, and under the same roof for two months! (probably way more awesome for kids than parents) Lilian’s sister Brenda, brother-in-law Oscar, and mother arrived Monday. They too will stay until the break is up, 10 people (11 with me) for the holidays. What a precious thing to have so much time to spend with family. They eat every meal together and spend most of their time in each other’s company. It is a part of Guatemalan culture I thoroughly enjoy, and makes me appreciate my own family. Though I think we would bruise each other if we stayed together that long. That or it would end in me pinned to the ground with Jess and Michael’s bare feet on the bare skin of my face. Gross.

Yesterday was an interesting day. Brenda told me that I could get my eyebrows waxed at the salon. I was slightly confused for three reasons. 1. I’m not sure I heard her right, but am deducing by the context clues of her taking her finger along her eyebrow arch, that she was telling me I need to get them done. 2. I don’t think my eyebrows are visibly bushy from the 5 feet away she was standing. (see picture above for proof) 3. I just met her 16 hours ago, it’s a little early in our relationship for such suggestions. I thanked her anyway and continued on with my day.

Last night was our first dinner all together – 10 of us around the table. I was feeling Spanish-speaking and witty, and was cracking jokes. Get this – they actually understood the jokes and laughed at them (and yes, I fully realize the difference between laughing with and laughing at). Not only is my Spanish improving, but I’m still funny! The conversation continued to me being 29 and single, and Brenda offered up Mainor (her 18-year-old son) to marry me, move to the US, and learn English. This pretty much rounds out my non-planning for the next year, and now I know. When I am done traveling I will marry a then 19-year-old, and move back to the US. Fear not. 

Today I was right back to understanding nothing that was said during lunch. You win some, you lose some.