family matters

this week i moved in with a nicaraguan family to help me practice spanish on a daily basis. i interviewed a few families, but this one won because it's a house of all women. FUN!!! the oldest is my host mom Goyita. her husband works in Miami and sends money once in awhile (a touchy subject it seems). she is the most excitable, happy lady i know. it's wonderful. 

she has two daughters that live with her - Laydi and i can never understand the other's name. the one's whose name i don't know also has two daughters - 18 and 5 years old. 

Trianna, the 5 year old is growing up in an interesting environment. the family is the wealthiest on the block (a clean house, electricity, a tv and a housekeeper) and therefore all of Trianna's playmates are quite a bit poorer than she is. i suppose to lessen the chances of her friends taking advantage of her she treats them all horribly. her best friend is 10 and whenever they play Trianna chooses all the rules and will never let her friend have an equal position. also, this same friend does chores for the family when she comes over - running to the market for things, cleaning up, and, most shockingly, cleaning Goyita's feet. as far as i can tell, in return for this she receives some food and can play in the house. Trianna's other "friends" stay outside the gate and watch them play. this is so bizarre to me. i feel sorry for her friends and also for her, growing up in an environment where she can't or chooses not to know real friendship. 

on a happier note, Trianna had a huge celebration for her 5th birthday (in which her friends were allowed IN the house) and they had TWO pinatas. as far as i can tell, the grandeur of a party is measured in number of pinatas. about 50 kids and their parents crammmed into the house and received 1/2 a sandwich, soda and ice cream. the cake seemed only for display purposes. the gifts brought for Trianna were mostly re-gifts of pants (a popular gift here?), many of which were too small for her (some were even for boys!). Trianna was very dissapointed about this and cried for quite some time after the party. :(

after the kid's party the adult party started. a band was brought in (trumpets and drums) and the adults celebrated Trianna with lots of rum and coke. it was fun, but everyone insisted that i dance and i simply don't know how to dance to trumpets and drums. it's harder than you think. like dancing to a high school band with everyone watching you. 

between family activities, school and spanish classes i've had a full first week without Dave. i'm really looking forward to coming back to IN for christmas and seeing everyone. and to feel cold, drive a car, and take a hot shower. mmm!!! :)