... Jiggity Jig

Here we are, back together again. One giant, happy familia paraguaya. (I could try to explain the family tree, but it's incredibly complicated. If you are very interested, comment and we will see what I can do.)
It is really wonderful to have Fide (and Nicole) home once again. I hadn't realized quite how much I missed them. Fide and I spent the evening last night discussing food, eating with your fingers, and culture. (I love eating with my fingers.) There may have also been a story or two about someone dying (have I mentioned Fide has a lovely little morbid streak?). She was also filling me in on all the craziness going on above ... something about a woman pregnant with eight babies (and already the mother of sextuplets?); the high cost of, well, just about everything; Los Angeles beauty, etc. Fide also received her official permanent residency card for the States (!!) on the condition that she return yearly. I am so excited for her AND me because this means I'll be able to see her on a yearly basis, which I had not expected. One of the difficulties I've come to learn about AFS in general is you can make such strong ties, but the reality of keeping in touch is not always as we would hope. Also, I've never been to LA (where Fide's hija lives), and I think it is high time I jetted over there to see what it is all about!

I've really begun to feel like myself again in this past month. Since June, really, I've been feeling like a bit of a stranger to myself. Through the challenges and joys of being here I've adapted, broke, become stronger, and learned such an exhaustingly vast amount of things (and continue to learn daily), but for the longest time I was having a hard time "recognizing" myself. I was a bit hollow. But since the beginning of February that's really changed and I feel like my old self again with a few new updated features and experiences. Finally I feel as if Paraguay is a part of me and I am a part of it. I am completely comfortable here. I never thought I'd be able to say that (with confidence).

Some days I cannot believe all that's happened and how long I've been here. Then again, seven months is really no time at all in the scheme of things.
I am now looking forward to my Family's visit, and the prospect of joining both familia and family under one roof.