There is an old expression that states, “Home is where the heart is.” During my time in Perú, I have found that expression to be especially true. I know that I still have weeks ahead of me before I return to my home in small town Nebraska, but my time here has also reminded me that a home does not necessarily have to be a physical thing in our lives. Homes should be filled with laughter and love, not air conditioning and the latest gadgets. Meals are shared in homes and days are talked about in homes. My Peruvian family has given me a home to live in during my 16 weeks here, and I will always be grateful to them for that.
After the first weekend here, I started to fall into a rhythm. I would not do much during school days other than homework and go to school, and I would travel during my weekends. While my family has always been incredibly kind to me, feeding me more than they need to, taking me to a wedding with them, and patiently talking with me, I did not realize how much I really think of them as my family until recently. We were sitting at the dinner table sometime last week, talking about our days, when someone said something that made the whole table explode in laughter. The joke does not matter, because it was the laughter that has resonated with me this whole time. My mother has a beautiful, low voice, but her laugh is a high-pitched cackle. Claudia has the hardiest and truest HA that I have ever heard in a laugh. Diego, who is normally a more reserved person, giggles like a chipmunk.
The best part is that this is actually a fairly regular occurrence. I live with a very happy family, and we often laugh together at the dinner table. I had never noticed it before that night because I had never before realized how much it meant to me. Laughter is very important to my Nebraska family and me. In fact, sometimes my sister and I communicate solely by giggles and telepathy. My Peruvian family makes our house a home with every passing laugh, and they will never know how much it means to me.
Now whenever I am feeling homesick, I can think of that night that my host family and I were holding our sides laughing, and how much at home I felt in that moment. I may be 4000 miles away from my house, my job, my boyfriend, friends, and family, but I have a second home here in Perú.
After the first weekend here, I started to fall into a rhythm. I would not do much during school days other than homework and go to school, and I would travel during my weekends. While my family has always been incredibly kind to me, feeding me more than they need to, taking me to a wedding with them, and patiently talking with me, I did not realize how much I really think of them as my family until recently. We were sitting at the dinner table sometime last week, talking about our days, when someone said something that made the whole table explode in laughter. The joke does not matter, because it was the laughter that has resonated with me this whole time. My mother has a beautiful, low voice, but her laugh is a high-pitched cackle. Claudia has the hardiest and truest HA that I have ever heard in a laugh. Diego, who is normally a more reserved person, giggles like a chipmunk.
The best part is that this is actually a fairly regular occurrence. I live with a very happy family, and we often laugh together at the dinner table. I had never noticed it before that night because I had never before realized how much it meant to me. Laughter is very important to my Nebraska family and me. In fact, sometimes my sister and I communicate solely by giggles and telepathy. My Peruvian family makes our house a home with every passing laugh, and they will never know how much it means to me.
Now whenever I am feeling homesick, I can think of that night that my host family and I were holding our sides laughing, and how much at home I felt in that moment. I may be 4000 miles away from my house, my job, my boyfriend, friends, and family, but I have a second home here in Perú.