Grocery Shopping

Yesterday was a nice, relaxed day. Our afternoon class was cancelled (he had some other obligation), so once I got home for lunch, I was done for the day. I lounged about, did some reading, ate some terrific soup, talked to Tracy for awhile, fell asleep while reading (oops), and then we went to the grocery store.

It was an interesting trip. Mami, her daughter-in-law, Moises (8), Manuel (4) and I piled into the van and headed off for more of an adventure than I was bargaining for. I've dealt with kids a lot in my life from babysitting to afterschool care to little cousin and the sort...I guess I've never attempted to grocery shop with 2 rambunctious little boys. Holy COW!!! The bottom half of the store was like any grocery store you'd find in the US. For some odd reason, I almost fit in. Maybe because everyone there was there for a reason and didn't take the time to notice the white chick wondering around, or maybe it was because I was with my family, or something, but I felt markedly less uncomfortable than I normally do in public. The upper level of the grocery store was kind of like a Wal-Mart. So I guess it was like Super Wal-Mart, just split into two levels. They didn't have my camera battery and the curling irons were REALLY expensive, so I passed. I did buy a present for Grandma & Grandpa, though!

A few days/weeks (something) ago Mami was asking us about our favorite dishes at home. I started telling her about Cornflake chicken with spaghetti and broccoli. I thought nothing of it until last night at dinner. I came downstairs to find a platter of spaghetti and broccoli. It was so sweet I almost started crying. She made it with a creamier sauce than Mom's but it was still superb. I was so touched. She said she always asks her girls their favorite dishes then trys to make them for them. "Cooking's just a game. I can make anything, really." It really made my day/night.

Like I mentioned, I talked to Tracy yesterday; I talked to Lisa for awhile, too. Between talking to the two of them and the e-mails with my mom and all the friendly comments, I'm doing better on the homesickness issue. We're in the home stretch and I think that's making it hard. But I really will miss my family when I leave. They're so great.

I think the rain might be letting up...but I probably just jinxed myself. It's so odd for it to rain for days straight here, for them and for us. The whole time we've been here it's been hot and maybe rained once for less than 20-30 minutes at lunch time. Tiffany and I are running out of clothes because they can't do our laundry because there's no way for them to dry. All the laundry gets hung out on the clothes lines in the back yard. One day our little brother asked his mom why they don't just buy an electric dryer. Her response was, "Why do we need to buy something when we've got the bright shining sun to dry our clothes?" It was so cute.

Well, it's lunch and siesta time again, and I am hungry and sleepy. Guess I'd better head home and see what's cooking today.