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Lorena and my "family"

Lorena (the chess buddy) and I went out last night again and sat in a dimly lit bar drinking pisco sours and listening to oldies like "Chain of fools" and "RESPECT". Maybe I am still in middle school mentally, but I am just amazed that she wants to hang out with me. I think I will always be stuck in that mentality. One more thing I get to overcome in my life. :)
When Lorena came to my house last night she got to meet my "family". And I am not talking about 4 or 5 or even 8 people. No last night there were 21 people from my adopted family there. There is a wedding of one of the cousins today and so the whole family is in town for it. Chilean families are HUGE and so much fun. Tata (grandpa) really likes me and always finds an excuse to sit next to me talk to me. The first time I met him I couldn´t speak spanish, but now I am, in his mind at least, fluent. He is adorable, I mean just pure adorableness! He is short and buff, muy muy fuerte. He was in the marines of Chile for years and travelled all over the world. He told me last night that he may look old on the outside but his heart is still that of a little kid, and it is so true. He laughed and joked the whole night through. His wife (grandma) is a quiet little lady who holds herself with alot of dignity, but so much dignity that she doesn´t smile and hug you when you walk in the room. All the cousins wanted to meet me becuase they had heard so much about me from the rest of their family. So for one night, I was engulfed in a Chilean family. Everyone had questions and wanted me to speak in English for them. And I loved it. When Lorena came, my host parents smiled and clapped their hands together asking for an introduction. So I introduced her to them, and my brother, and my sister, and my new cousins, and their parents, and then the grandparents, and so on until all 21 people had now kissed Lorena on the cheek.
We only stayed for a few minutes more with the family before we headed out. It was already 11:30 when we left so I knew it would be a late night. We took a cab to Coquimbo and sat in the bar talking. We talked more about our families and lives this time. Her aunt´s ex- husband was one of the revolutionists (like the minister of education or something) in Nicaragua. Something crazy like that.
I got home at about 4 in the morning and before I could reach my room I heard the guys coming home from the bachelor party. They were a little baracho (drunk), but I think they had a good time and I know they were told very sternly by their wives to behave... chileans!

Comments

Anonymous said…
your chilean family sounds really wonderful. how about posting a picture or two? also a picture of lorena?

sym
beckalippy said…
mommy, I would love to post more pictures, BUT my connection for the computer and my camera is in VV´s room. I have to wait until I have enough pictures on my camera to pay the money to put them professionally on a cd. But soon hopefully!

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