Family.

I just went out with Iciar and Joseba. A walk through the town. Got back at 12:15am. It was great. The kids are at their grandmas and so I was free and they invited me out. They referred to me as their oldest daughter. We walked and got ice-cream. Joseba told the guy 2 scoops for me while he got 1. He’s “supposed” to be helping me with my diet… Iciar met up with us and we walked to the plaza. Talked about the food I need to learn before I leave and the cookies and American meal I need to make. We get tp the plaza and there is a mini carnival that has been out there. I take some pics. Joseba takes me to the churreria where I admit I love them. Of course he offers them to me. Nooo. Pobre Erica, Iciar says. He’s trying to make me fat! Or he’s testing me in which I am definitely failing. But we decided we would get them tomorrow. (I had churros with them my 2^nd day here). We talked along the port and went to the club and sat on the deck. Beautiful. Nice Beatles cover songs playing. It was so nice just to be with them. I felt so comfortable. We looked at photos on the phone and talked about things. My family, theirs, the kids. It was all so…idk…. “family like.” And there I was sitting on the edge of the coast in beautiful weather looking out at hints of waves and clouds and recalling how far we’ve/I’ve come. Thinking how much I would miss them. As in icier and joseba, not just the kids. Thikning how they might fell-this experience for them. And how much they have done for me. I started getting emotional. In my head. Then I started thinking how strange it was that it was almost over. No way. It really is was an other-worldly feeling. Like surely this must all be a dream. Half thinking I might wake up right then and there. A part of me wanted to say what I was thinking. But I stopped myself. Not wanting to ruin the night with awkward Spanish explaining and possible tears. They have been very good to me. What an odd thing to do, to let a random girl into your home and take care of your children, sleep in your house, eat your food, and be with you all the time. And what a strange thing for a 21 year old girl to do. Travel across the world and live with people you have never met, can hardly communicate with, agree to be part of their family through thick and thin. We are strange people. What an experience. I can’t believe its almost over. I was very sad. Yes I want t go home, yes I want to see my friends, family. I want to do things I haven’t done, eat things I haven’t eaten, watch movies I’ve missed in these last 5 months. But knowing that I might not ever see this place, these people, or experience anything like this again is a really hard feeling