In our home stay, our mom was very well known and respected, so it was very easy for Jade and I to make friends because everyone accepted us because she accepted us. Here in the city we are on our own. We have made fast friends with all the people in the office. I love all my American and National coworkers, they make the work here very enjoyable, but I still want to meet more people, especially some that do not know the father. It is important to be in different houses in communities to continue learning about the culture and language. In our schedule one day a week is set apart strictly for going out and meeting new people. Let me tell you about some of the people I have come to love in my new home.
- My first friend I met through my supervisor. She is a young lady about 21 years old; she is married, and has a son who is 3 years old. Her husband is an auto driver and she is a stay at home mom. After all her chores are done she has a lot of time on her hands so I try to come during those hours. I have made a commitment to visit her at least once a week. She does not speak any English so this is a great chance to practice my language and learn more. She taught me how to make tea and I often help her cut up vegetables for lunch. Her little boy has a love hate relationship with me. It is fun to have Monalisaby (That's what they call me, the by on the end is an affectionate term meaning something similar to aunt, and Melissa is hard to pronounce so I go by Monalisa there) at his house and look at all the crazy things she carries in her purse, but it is not fun to share his mommy with her. He sometimes attacks me, haha, last time though I brought him some gems (which are similar to M&Ms) and we were on better terms now. I really enjoy my time with them and feel very comfortable in their home.
- A lot of the time it is hard to meet women because they are in the homes, not out walking in the street. I walk by this beauty parlor every day and one day it hit me that there would probably be women in there, so I went in. It was only the owner there, but she was the cutest little lady and we had a long conversation about ourselves and I ended up getting a facial from her. (It was the best thing that has happened to my skin since I got here) After I was done we talked a little more and then she told me to stop by her shop anytime to visit with her or her customers and practice my language. I am very excited about this and fully intend to get to know her better.
- One day I was walking down the street asking the father where I should go to make some new friends when I saw this lady sitting in a shop all by herself and realized the opportunity had been given. I went up to her shop and began a conversation with her about the things in her shop (it was a grain shop). Her husband came in and she introduced me to him. Next thing I knew I was sitting in a chair in the shop with a cup of tea, samples of their different grains fried up, my photos of my family, and about 20 men in this shop. The husband was so impressed with my language he was inviting people walking down the street into his shop to listen to me speak their heart language. Probably the funniest thing about that was that the husband introduced me to his nephew and then he asked me "he is beautiful no?" and through my limited knowledge of the language I understood he needs a Mrs...I just laughed and told him my father was not here to approve and that I had someone in America waiting for me. He invited me to his house and I took Jade and one of our other friends from work. It was really a good time to get to know the family better and it was nice to be welcomed into someone's home again. I see them every time I walk to and from work so I am getting to know them pretty well. They have proved to be pretty faithful friends too, the other day a rickshaw driver was trying to over charge us in front of our friends shop and he came and took care of it for us. It's good to know that they have our backs that’s for sure.
It's nice to have people that I am close enough with that I know I am going to miss when I have to go back to America. I am hoping to meet some more soon!
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| Jade and I with our new friends after a tasty lunch :) |
