Day five - Independence Day - was a Sunday. We stayed home giving some little bodies rest. It’s amazing how only two hours difference can still take a toll on bodies and schedules. At this point the youngest 3 or 4 were waking up at 4 a.m.!
Ben snuck out to visit a church in Antigua. His experience was interesting, this was a fully bilingual service. He said they sang songs one verse in Spanish and one verse in English. The sermon was also delivered with an interpreter, and the church was clearly geared to international visitors. It was a fun experience for him. However, getting there on such a busy day was a different adventure. He said he was literally stuck in a mob of people unable to move in any direction at some point.
While Ben navigated seas of people, I visited with family and friends!
Three of my dad’s sisters, one of my cousins, one of my former class mates and her mom visited that day.
Paula isn’t only a former classmate, she was also my travel agent.
My aunts, my cousin, her son, my parents and us.
My mama.
Iker, honoring his name (he’s named after a soccer player because his dad was a BIG soccer fan!)
Victoria and Tía Mariel, my cousin.
A cultural note: In Latin America we do extended family a bit differently than here in the US. My cousins from my parents’ siblings are my “sibling cousins”, their children are my nieces and nephews. Thus, my children call my cousins “Aunt” and “Uncle” just as they do my brothers.
Tía Mariel, Victoria and Cristian (Mariel’s son)
I have head it said that cousins are the first friends one makes. It certainly has been the case with Mariel. In many ways, she was my first friend. We’re the same age. I was born in January she was born in October of the same year but she was one year behind me in school. We grew up together. We took our first airplane ride together. For countless years we spent our Saturdays together walking malls, watching movies, hanging out. We listened, sang and danced the songs of New Kids of the Block, Menudo, Flans, Pandora, Luis Miguel, and Timbiriche to name a few. We graduated from the same school and we did our office practice in the same office (one year apart - so basically I was her boss! Lol!). She is a beautiful woman and I appreciate her so much.
My mom and my Tía Giselle (Giselle’s name sake, obviously)
Of all my aunts I have probably been the closest with Tía Giselle because she lived next door to us for several years. Tía Giselle is a kind a generous woman. She is always giving her time, her skills, and her resources to those she loves. She is very crafty and she is always making something with her hands. Through the years she has made beautiful cards and decorations. If anyone ever needs her, she is there, cooking, baby sitting, listening, talking or simply accompanying in a time of need. Tía Giselle never judges a need, if your need is just to have someone to go to the store with, she is at the ready to be of assistance!
In conversation with Paula, and Doña Julie (Paula´s mom).
In the Guatemalan Education system, when a student reaches 3o Básico (maybe the equivalent to 9th grade here), they must choose the route they want to continue. The choices are Teaching, Accounting, Secretarial studies, or Bachillerato (which is what every high school student goes through here in the US, this is what a student who is interested in a more scientific/liberal arts college career would choose). San Patricio used to be a Secretarial school back when a Secretary was still a needed asset in any kind of office. All of the Freshman students at that school were newly transferred from many other schools. Paula was one of them, one of us. I don´t think I ever really knew why she only did one year with us and then transferred to a different school. But we have always stayed in touch and as years have gone by she has become the “social coordinator” of our group.
She currently works as a travel agent, and has handled our travel needs in the past few years. Whenever we have brought my parents this way or this last time that we all went to Guatemala, we purchase our tickets from her. She also was who found that house for us this time.
I remember people telling me that there are no friends like the friends you make at school. I never really understood that statement until now. Twenty-plus years later when I reconnect with some of my classmates and really just pick up where we left off. There is a knowledge of where you came from, of your journey, a respect for where life has brought each one of us, and a deep and loyal love. I’m certainly not super close with all of my classmates, but I am very thankful for those with whom I am.
Tía Chata and her grandson, Cristian.
Funny how I have known her as Tía Chata my entire life, yet her name is María Elena. I have no idea where the name Chata came from, but that has been her name to me forever. Her only daughter is María Elena. Tía Chata was the one who first took me to the US. They were bringing María Elena to Miami and I never quite knew whose idea it was for me to go with them. At the age of 7 I flew with them to Miami and experienced my first international trip. Also on account of Mariel being an only child, most of my sleep overs were spent at their (impeccable) house. Tía Chata doesn’t talk much, but she is also one who will shoulder in and help whenever sand however she can. Back when my dad was so sick and was refusing to go to the doctor, she showed up at the house and helped my mom take him to the doctor. She is his oldest sister (there are two more uncles who are older than her), so she exerted that authority and made him go to the doctor. That was when we realized he had colon cancer (more than 20 years ago now).
Before there was a “Monica” in Friends, there was Tía Chata. We would joke that she would clean your dish as you were eating in it!! She is quiet and stern, but extremely kind, and she does have a soft spot even when she doesn’t like to admit it. Also, she is recovering from a broken ankle a few months back. I was so happy to see her and hug her after that ordeal!
My dad and Tía Paty, his youngest sister
Tía Paty is the youngest of the 7 children in my dad´s family. If I had to say what I think of when I think of her, it would have to be fun. I learned dance steps from her when I spent nights at her house in my younger years. She always seemed to have a laid back, and appealing fun loving personality. We didn´t spend as much time together later on because she moved to the opposite side of the city from where we lived, but pretty much any time I saw her it was fun.
She is a very caring woman, and she always seems to take life´s blows very graciously. She helped me find our wedding venue when we were looking for budget friendly gardens in Antigua. She probably is the most free spirited of all my aunts.
Tía Karin and Benny
As I said before, Karin has been my closest friend from childhood. We lived a few streets from each other (in Guatemalan streets, that is VERY close). Perhaps it was the proximity of our houses, perhaps the polar opposites we have always been, or maybe it was just the fact that our parents struck a deal where her parents were responsible for bringing us to school (San Patricio) every day and mine for bringing us home, but we became the best of friends. She is the sister I never had.
Life and years have certainly driven wedges between us at times, but the bond we made so long ago has always been there. We always said we would live close to each other (…who knows, we’re not done with life yet!), we always said our kids would call the other “Tía”, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t, but we do realize and understand that familiarity has much to do with that. But of all the things we ever said we would do, the one that we have both kept is that we have fought for this friendship through thick and thin. We have even fought each other for the sake of the friendship.
It was SO good to just sit and visit with my aunts like old times just sitting in the living room and having ten conversations going on at the same time. I was so thankful for such a day of re connecting with so many loved ones.