(Host) Home

Becca stood next to another voluntario, Jessica, whom she’d only met moments before. They had instantly bonded over their lack of Spanish speaking skills and nervousness to meet their new families. Suddenly Becca leaned to Jessica and whispered,

“I know who my family is,” she looked out at the small group of host parents.

“How do you know which ones they are?” Jessica asked in surprise.

“I don’t know, I have a feeling,” Becca replied and at this moment a friendly looking older couple stepped forward. “That’s my family,” Becca whispered to Jessica and before she could respond, the woman introduced herself.

“Mi nombre es...” the woman began, a kind smile spreading across her face as she gazed at the shell shocked volunteers. Becca looked down at the information page in her hand and read the name in her head over and over; Gloria de Luna, Gloria de Luna, Gloria de Luna...

“Gloria de Luna,” the woman said and Becca practically jumped in the air. Becca stepped forward and greeted her new host mama, Gloria and host papa, Luis, or Lucho. They hugged and kissed and immediately lead Becca to their car to load her numerous bags. Both being under five feet tall, her new host parents nearly fell over lifting her backpack but they would not allow her to help.

On the way home, Gloria and Lucho spoke in happy tones that made Becca feel far too mucho like a dog for her liking, though she did understand some words: Cuerpo de Paz, Voluntario, muy alta, que bien, no entienda. Becca mostly smiled and nodded.

As they pulled up to her new home, Becca was amazed at the size and the beauty of the house. Gloria and Lucho lived within high brick walls which housed a spacious garden, driveway, the main house, and the internet cafe they owned. Not long after the vehicle stopped, Becca met her host brother, Felipe, who was 22, and her host and aunt and uncle.

After moving her bags into her room with the help of the entire family, a very long lunch, and a broken conversation about September 11th with her host uncle, Becca began unpacking her things and was finally alone with her thoughts. However, finding that her thoughts were most saturated in fear, confusion, and a drizzle of homesickness she was trying desperately to suppress, she quickly unpacked her bags and rejoined her family in the dining room.

The conversation was limited at best, and exhausting beyond compare but Becca had never fallen so in love with a group of people so quickly in her life. They had invited this exhausted, illiterate, and probably smelly volunteer into their home and more than that, into their hearts and that was a debt she’d never repay.