La Última

Note: Clemente was at bootcamp during most of these photos, but he's no less significant.

I can only hope that my absolute adoration for this family comes through in this post.

This family didn’t want to host an exchange student. They wanted ME. 

The first time I met them was when they saw me stranded at a bus stop as night fell. They drove up, asked if I needed a ride, and I RAN up to the car, replying “SI.” 

Pia is one of my classmates, and one of my closest friends. I visited her family so many times that they already considered the guest room “la pieza de Maia” (“Maia’s room”). Every time I came over, we would have long conversations into the night, playing cards, and eating picoteo (charcuterie). They’re ALL SOOOOOO sarcastic and I can confidently say that Gonzalo can make a joke about anything and everything. Thank gosh my Spanish speaking skills hit their stride in time, I would have been simply befuddled (isn't that a fun word??!?!).

It didn’t take long for me to get comfortable. I was helping to make lunch and do little chores FAR before I moved in; so when I finally did, it was as if I'd been living there the whole time. I even knew where all the fancy mugs belong! The transition was easy for the family, and easy for me. Out of all the families, here is where I truly felt able to express myself and be however loud, quiet, silly, or honest as I want. After MONTHS of being in Chile where it's common to drink soda with every meal, I finally explained that I don't even like coca-cola (a fact that broke some hearts).

We finished making cupcakes just before this pic :)

The family has always been so excited to share everything about Chile with me. They’ve taken me to festivals, concerts, new cities, and Atacama (again!); however, my FAVORITE place they’ve brought me to, my favorite place in all of Chile... is the grandma’s house.

I swear that a few years ago I had a dream of this place. A winding gravel road that leads through a series of fruit trees and flower bushes until it reaches a little cottage, with the front door nearly buried by plants.

As soon as I got out of the car, I was ambushed by 101 dogs. Seriously, no matter where I looked—dog. (In reality, there’s like 9). Across the yard, you could see the second house where some relatives live, the chicken coop, and beyond that, the corn fields. 

As soon as I stepped into the little cottage, though I’d never been there before, it felt so achingly familiar. Rustic, lived in, and loving. The jars of honey, the overcrowded little trinkets on the shelves, and a well-dented wooden dining table. You can’t walk in and not feel at home. Impossible. 

I was folding dough into empanadas in no time. 

When I’m an old lady, or a young lady, I want to live in a place like this. A place full of character, a million memories, with nature bursting at the seams. Did I mention they grow avocados, grapes (the best I’ve ever had in my life), pomegranates, figs, and fruits-I-don’t-know-the-name-of IN THE BACKYARD?!?!?

Most of the relatives would gather at the Grandma's house (Paine) nearly every weekend to keep her company. Luckily for me, the trait of being ridiculously welcoming seems to be hereditary. 

Everyone from the grandma, to the cousins, to the brother of somebody’s uncle welcomed me to the fam, lending me shoes and sweaters and sharing all their stupidly crazy stories (robberies, broken bones, family drama). Eventually they even started referring to me as one of the cousins.

I was forced into my fair share of leaf throwing fights.

INTERMISSION: the pets.

Lea! Lea hated me. If I even just approached her,  she would just get up and walk away. Rude! We continued to have short interactions, and eventually she must’ve realized that hey, maybe I’m not so bad. One day, though she usually stays away from large groups, she shocked everyone by hopping on to my lap as we ate “once” (tea + bread + jam + cheese = dinner), and settled in, purring her pretty lil calico head off. Now she stays so close to me that sometimes I trip on her. 

Note: she reminds me a little bit of Nash, the cat I used to spend hours with at the humane society in Minnesota. There's a blog with Nash from last June, I think.

Honorary mention: Rex, one of the Paine dogs who I absolutely adored.

Back to Humans

On my last morning in Chile, I came to breakfast, and the fam told me to close my eyes. When I opened them, they were all standing in a line, holding pieces of paper that read out “WE LOVE YOU MAIA.” The dad purposely flipped “Maia” the wrong way for a laugh. 

I owe them all (individually and as a whole) more than I could possibly explain, and there’s not one person in this house that I don’t adore with all my heart.

My heart hurts.

I can't really say this, but this is my favorite family.

Thanks for reading!!! ❤️❤️❤️

+ bonus photos of the fam and Paine