I have been hearing about it for months, but it is now becoming a reality. We (my Dominican family and I) will be moving next week. In case you don't remember, for the last few months I have been living with Eddy's sister Guille and her two daughters. For a few years now, they have lived in a very small apartment above a colmado. In this apartment there were one and a half bedrooms, I slept in the half and Guille and girls slept in the other. It was tiny but it worked.
However, next week we will be moving into a house. I finally went to see it today. It is about twice the size of our apartment. There are three bedrooms, so the girls will actually have their own room and my room is much bigger. It's still about half the size of the average bedroom in the US, but there may actually be space to stand or even walk in this bedroom. Which would be a big change for me. I have even heard something about a closet. This very exciting. However, I was in my room and there wasn't a closet, so I'm not really sure what they mean by "closet", but again, if it's something to put my clothes in other than a suitcase, I will be thrilled.
The best part about it though, is how excited everyone is. The girls are practically beside themselves and I don't think I've seen Guille in a better mood. I kind of feel bad that I am not more excited. I am looking forward to having more space, but I really don't like moving. I am not looking forward to trying to pack all my stuff into my four suitcases and carrying it down the road as all the people look at the crazy American girl with all her stuff. And it's true. Honestly, in my tiny little half of a bedroom, I probably have more stuff (that came here in a total of four suitcases) than the three of them have in the whole house, and I'm including the kitchen. This is definitely a humbling realization, especially when I realize how often I take the blessings I have been given for granted.
Recently I realized that one of the reasons that the decision to move was made was because of me. It was because now they have added another person to their family and they need more space. Through this whole process, I have been shown that in their minds, in a very matter-of-fact way, I just another member of the family. They look after me, and worry about me, and take care of me as if I am one of their own. (In order to avoid confusion, let me explain that when I say "they", I mean the whole family. Not just Guille, but her parents and siblings as well. Because here the family is one, even though some of them live in different houses, they are one unit.)
I know that I am probably repeating myself talking about this again, but it continues to surprise me. It's something that is so different about the Dominican culture. They are so open and welcoming and you are never made to feel like a burden. They see you as a blessing and they treat you that same way. This is one of the biggest things about their culture that I hope rubs off on me. It is my prayer that in my life I will be as open and welcoming to the people that God puts in my path as this family has been with me.
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