The Return

I made my first visit back to my satellite site and my first host family last Friday. When I got there, my smallest host brother was the first one to see me. Playing with the hose, he yelled my name before jumping on me. Then I saw my brothers and my dad. My mom, as usual, was knee deep in work. “I have four brides this weekend, and eight next weekend!” After I walked into the salon, everyone commented on how good I looked. They were amazed at how much my language has improved in the last two months as well.

I drank a coffee with them, sitting in the salon, just like in the old days. They seemed upset when I said I had to leave (considering I didn’t pack a bag and I wasn’t sure when the furgons would stop running to Durres). I’m hoping to come and stay a weekend in September because my host mom will be less busy with weddings at that time. Plus I’ll really need to do something with my hair by then!

Reflecting on my way home, I thought about how happy the visit made me and the good fortune I had to live in their home. Seeing them two months later, it was like nothing had changed. I still felt just as comfortable as I did then. I had been by their house so many times over the last two months and I hadn’t stopped. I’m so grateful for how well they took care of me and how they made me feel like a member of the family in those first weeks here in country. I don’t think my experience would be as great as it has been without their love and support those first weeks. It really helped me create a good foundation.

I thought about the differences between my past family and my present family, and my apprehension about adjusting to life in a new family at my permanent site. Things have certainly changed since my first days here in my second family, largely in ways I wouldn’t have predicted. We have developed a very deep relationship, and I’m pleased to have two relationships with two different families. They have helped me in ways I’ll probably never be able to express. Even though I had some concerns about “me-time” and personal space, since I had to sacrifice those to spend 3 ½ more months in a family, I know I made the right decision. Before I came here, I knew I wanted to do this right. I kept that idea in my mind when it came to goal-setting. Living in another family has really benefited me on a lot of levels, and I feel genuinely blessed for the people that I have met here. They are a large reason why my transition has been so smooth, and for that I am very grateful.