So I just returned from an awesome adventure to Switzerland and Italy where I sought out relatives of the Terribilini family in the Ticino Mountains above Locarno, Switzerland, and visited old friends and made some new all over Florence and the surrounding area. It was beautiful.
While I was there, I wasn't that enthusiastic about returning to the busy, dirty city of Los Angeles. However, last night while I was walking to USC, to find some time away from the oven that is my house during these hot summer days, I found something I do enjoy about my city and my neighborhood. I found my Oaxacan neighbor outside laying brick (ladrios) like "they did once upon a time". I considered just waving and continuing on my way, but instead I turned around to say hi and asked if I could come inside and see what he was doing. Struggling with communicating in Spanish (I had Italian on the brain) we shared a wonderful evening. I learned about laying brick, using the earth, rather than cement to seal in the cracks. I learned about plans for the garden that he was going to plant around his house and some new vocab words like herba buena (mint) and ortaliza (vegetable garden), and how Flor de Hawaii is called Flor de Mayo in Oaxaca. Then I just sat on the steps while he worked away eventually spending some time talking to his wife when she got home from work. I learned that their little chihuahua mix is named Trevi after the artist Gloria Trevi because apparently she was a bit crazy and that fit's Trevi's personality well. I was happy. It was like a little piece of Italy around the corner in the sense that I got to operate in a different language, that I got to learn about gardening and simple living, and the joy of just sitting and being with people.
At one point the fruit truck drove by and I went and picked out a mango, some bananas and plums. My fruit vendor blessed me in Spanish and told me to take care of myself and I shared some smiles with another neighbor, who was also out buying fruit this evening, after she tried to explain on my behalf why I didn't need plastic bags for my fruit :-).
It was a good night. Thank you God for the gifts you give your children.
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2 comments:
great post Jessica. I too have struggled with coming back to LA after being in Thailand this summer--and Thai keeps wanting to pop out when I need Spanish. Way to go for stopping to talk. Seems like getting past that first step is often the hardest part.
I love this post, Jessica. Yes, the things that give us life can be half way round the world and down the street. Jesus is good that He gave you both this month.
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