Exchange is a crazy thing. Every day is full of the unexpected. For example: Sunday, my family and I celebrated my parents' 25th wedding anniversary. We had mass and a big lunch afterwards. While I was enjoying my soup, I realised that I was unaware of what I was eating. This was brought to my attention when I discovered a strange piece of meat on my spoon. I debated asking what I was eating. However, I decided it was better to finish the soup first and then ask. Ignorance is bliss. So after I had consumed my soup, I worked up the courage to ask what I just ate. My aunt responded casually, "Fish, crab, and octopi." It was a good thing I asked AFTER I finished eating it.
Another example is my new hobby. Three times a week, I walk 20 minutes to go to my telas class. Telas. That sounds fun doesn't it? Now before you ask what it is, I'll explain it to you. It's like a giant elastic ribbon hanging from the ceiling, and in my class, they teach me to climb it and do tricks. Now that may sound easy, but I assure you that it's not. At my class, the telas are 20 meters high. And I get the pleasure of hoisting my body weight half way up and learn how not to fall. Yet, telas class is almost always the highlight of my day. It gives you the feeling that you can do anything.
Another wonderful part of exchange is making people laugh. I do this on a daily basis. Be it funny one-liners or random gestures to get my point across, it always makes people smile. The other day, I was in my room watching a movie, and all of the sudden, PLOP! I felt a rain drop on my head. That was a surprise. So I went to tell my mom that the roof was leaking, but I didn't know how to say leaking in Spanish. So I had to be creative. I said, "Mamá, el techo está llorando." (Mom, the roof is crying.) She just laughed and laughed and laughed.
You just have to enjoy the little things. Take it day by day, and learn to laugh at yourself. That's the beauty of exchange.
Another example is my new hobby. Three times a week, I walk 20 minutes to go to my telas class. Telas. That sounds fun doesn't it? Now before you ask what it is, I'll explain it to you. It's like a giant elastic ribbon hanging from the ceiling, and in my class, they teach me to climb it and do tricks. Now that may sound easy, but I assure you that it's not. At my class, the telas are 20 meters high. And I get the pleasure of hoisting my body weight half way up and learn how not to fall. Yet, telas class is almost always the highlight of my day. It gives you the feeling that you can do anything.
Another wonderful part of exchange is making people laugh. I do this on a daily basis. Be it funny one-liners or random gestures to get my point across, it always makes people smile. The other day, I was in my room watching a movie, and all of the sudden, PLOP! I felt a rain drop on my head. That was a surprise. So I went to tell my mom that the roof was leaking, but I didn't know how to say leaking in Spanish. So I had to be creative. I said, "Mamá, el techo está llorando." (Mom, the roof is crying.) She just laughed and laughed and laughed.
You just have to enjoy the little things. Take it day by day, and learn to laugh at yourself. That's the beauty of exchange.