New house and "adopted family"

About a month ago I decided to move houses and into a different living situation. I really liked my host mom and aunt and the adorable kids, but there were some factors with the host dad that were really affecting my mental health and I decided that it was time to move. I moved in with my first host mom´s brother and his wife who live just down the street from the first house that in which I lived. The couple has kids who live in Lima and the dad works in the mine and isn´t home very often so it´s pretty much just me and the mom living the house and things there are really chill. So I live in a very calm and quiet house but I have an "adopted family" who has taken in and made me their own which in the home in which I spend all of my time even though I don´t officially live there.

 

Let me explain:

Back in February, I met an amazing family who I slowly became very close with. Over these past few months, I have spent more and more time with them and they have truly made me a part of their family. They are very humble, kind, fun, and just wonderful people and I feel so lucky to have them in my life because they bring so much joy to me. In the home of this family there are two couples (two brothers and their wives) and 8 kids. I eat lunch with them every day and spend as much time with them as possible and they never fail to brighten my day and to put a smile on my face J So I basically rent a room from a couple but then have my family life with a different family who I visit and spend time with every day. It´s a situation that I really appreciate because I have my own space so that when I need to work, or just relax, I can do so in peace but then I also get quality family time every day when I visit them. They have truly made me a part of the family as I help cook and clean, help them prepare and sell food in the streets, buy them groceries, bathe the children, help the kids with their homework daily, etc. In return they feed me and give me lots of family love-a pretty good trade off if you ask me! Being a part of their beautiful and humble family is truly one of my favorite things about my life in Peru :)

It´s interesting because when I studied abroad in Ecuador, I had a similar situation. I had a host family that wasn´t the greatest but I ended up meeting a neighboring family who was amazing and took me in, making me a part of their family. I still have great contact with them today and have gone back twice to visit them in Ecuador because I love them so much! I always find the most amazing families in Latin America even if they aren´t the inicial families that I get placed with.

I am so thankful for Latin American hospitality and the importance that they place on family values and spending time with family! It has been such a joyful experience for me :)

 

Here are some photos of me with my “adopted” Peruvian family:

On a walk with the kids

I love my adorable Yanelita!-Just look at that smile.

Mama Benita knitting a seat cushion.

Precious!

Part of the family!

Mama Katty and her kids

Napping outside with the pig and cat :)

A typical day hanging out outside of the house after lunch.

Going to sell grass at the market (people buy it for animal food).

Selling food in the street with Katty.

Benita feeding the pig

So much love :)

The other part of the family :)

My adorable babies!

The humble little home where we spend all of our time laughing, dancing, and loving life :)