Familia

This morning, after over two weeks of being ready to be home, I was hit by a feeling of nostalgia for this place I haven't left yet.  I'm finally connecting with my host family and now it is almost time to leave.  I know I'm going to miss my host family and Galapagos.  I just hope I can come back to visit someday in the near future. 
Last night, I went to play basketball with my family.  I was nervous at first because I know I'm not great at sports and I wasn't sure how competitive the guys would be (considering the machismo thing).  It ended up being a lot of fun.  Four of my host mom's kids and some of their kids came to play.  We played Reloj (a basketball game where you have to shoort from a bunch of different locations around the goal, like the numbers on a clock).  We also played a game of basketball and then futbol (aka soccer).  Then, we went home and had lobster, french fries, and coca cola for dinner.  Best meal ever!  It was especially fun because I ate with the entire family instead of just with my host mom like I usually do.  I think it's because I now live in the main house, but I'm definitely a lot more involved in family life than I ever was before. 
This morning, I ate with Concepcion (host mom) and Sebastian (Suzannah's son).  Sebastian is adorable and calls me 'chica' because he can't remember or say 'Kate'.

Here's what I've learned about my family:
Concepcion is my host mom.  She has like seven children, who live everywhere from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz to the mainland to Germany. 
Her children:
Hendry lives behind her with his wife and two daughters (Dailyn and Haedy). 
Manolo lives with her. 
Maurecio lives in Riobamba on the mainland but is here while Hendry is on the mainland taking a class. 
Suzannah lives in Santa Cruz, but she's been sick, so she's living with her mom at the moment.  Her children are Sebastian and Michelle (Loula). 
Lorena lives in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno too with her two daughters (I don't know their names yet).  She runs a nail salon. 
Veronica lives on the mainland somewhere near Peru.  She is pregnant, but there are complications and Concepcion has been really worried about her lately.  Please keep her in your prayers. 
I know she has a child in Germany too, but I don't know anything about that one. 

I was really excited last night when I realized I actually knew the names of all the people I'm currently living with.  It's been difficult since people come and go fairly often and don't actually call each other by their names (or their real names) often.  It's usual for them to call each other by titles like "Mija", which I think is some form of "my daughter- mi hija" or "Mamita" (affectionate form of mom).  This has made it a challenge to actually learn people's names. 

There is some sort of Christmas celebration on Thursday put on by the local schools (including GAIAS).  That will be our last night on the island and I'm pretty sure we aren't going to sleep much.  I'm still really excited to get home and see everyone and return to normal life, but I know that Galapagos will always have a place in my heart.