5/13/13
June 15
Dear Mom and Dad,
I arrived safely. See, I told you not to worry. Our group made it though customs ok, except one girl. Somehow she got all the way here without a passport. She said she didn’t know she needed one. They wouldn’t let her out of the holding area, and I think she had to take the next plane home. We didn’t wait though, so I’m not sure.
The bus ride from the airport out to the town we’re using as a base was a real eye-opener. You wouldn’t believe the poverty. The places these people live in; it’s, I don’t know. They’re hard to describe. But back home we wouldn’t use these to store a lawnmower. No wonder there’s so much disease here, and crime. It’s like my Sociology professor said two semesters ago, “Half the world doesn’t know how the other half lives.” I didn’t understand that then. But now I see how profound he was. He should tell his saying to more people. It could become famous.
Our base is a hotel where we’ll stay at night, then we’ll take a bus out to the village every day. The village doesn’t have any place suitable to hold us all. Nor have any of the conveniences we’re used to. (Like bathrooms. And floors.) But even though this hotel is supposedly the best there is, it’s still terrible. I don’t know why you made me come on this trip. It’s hot. And humid. It’s even hot inside. There’s no A/C. And there’s no Internet service for my I-pad. I’ve carried it all around the neighborhood trying to find someplace to get a signal; but nothing. I guess I’ll just have to leave it in the room.
I can’t wait to see the village tomorrow. If it’s even worse than this, like they say, it must really be backwards. I guess that’s why they’re called natives. I hope they appreciate the school we’re building for them. The Youth Service said a teacher has already been arranged and will come in the Fall.
More news later after we actually get started.
Love,
Tommy
= = = = =
June 21
Dear Tommy,
Oh, Baby, you’re growing up. I know it seems hard at first, but you’ll get used to it. When I would go on trips like this, I loved them. The first one is always the most shocking. There’s a saying, “Travel is broadening.” That doesn’t mean it makes you fat. It means it broadens your mind, and your outlook. You see things while traveling that you’d never see while at home; not even on TV. You have to be there to know what things are really like.
Give it a chance. Try to really see how they live and why things are the way they are. The more you immerse yourself in their way, the more you’ll understand their culture. And the more you’ll enjoy your experience. These two months will pass before you know it.
Don’t forget to use the bug spray every morning. You don’t want to come home with a bot-fly infection. Also, remember about the water — only bottled. I know you’ll do fine.
Affectionately,
Mom
= = = = =
July 15
Dear Mom and Dad,
I miss you both so much. I didn’t know being away from home would be so hard. Being with the other students makes it a little easier. But it’s not the same.
The school construction is going on schedule. Mostly we just carry blocks and mix mortar for the real builders. Later we’ll help with the painting.
I’m feeling better about the living standards. You’ll be glad to hear that I took your advice and am getting involved with the local culture. I’ve made some friends in the village, I’m trying a lot of new foods, and I can already speak a little of their language. Oh, and I’m even sleeping in the village at night in one of their huts that was empty. At first our group leader thought it wasn’t a good idea; but once I told him you said I should, he consented.
Besides, I didn’t like it at the hotel anymore. The first day while we were out at the work site, someone went into my room and stole my I-pad. The hotel said it was my fault for not securing it. But it was locked in my room in my suitcase. That should have been safe enough. Then they got mad at me for calling the police about it. I think they’re going to get fined. But I still didn’t get it back.
I now spend a lot of time with the locals after the others go back to the hotel each night. Each evening after dinner the tribal elders let me sit with them around the fire in the center of the village. This is a great honor! Not many outsiders get to do this. But they trust me since I’ve started staying here.
One of the girls, a village girl, stays at the fire pit with me after the others go back to their huts. We look at the stars and talk. It makes it not so lonely. She’s trying to learn English, and she’s helping me learn things about their ways. This weekend she’s going to take me to a special place further back in the jungle; just the two of us. The stream there is deep enough for swimming. It should be fun.
I’ll write again in a couple of weeks.
Love,
“Tooma” (that’s the way they pronounce my name)
= = = = =
July 21
Dear Thomas,
Now listen, Son. I realize you think you know everything. But there’s still a lot you’re not mature enough to understand. I can recognize from your letter that you’re experiencing what’s called ‘culture shock’. And I think there’s a real danger of you doing something foolish. Culture shock manifests different ways in different people. Some get depressed, some immerse themselves too deeply in the local ways, and some even get into relationships that can’t possibly last.
I want you to move back into the hotel with the rest of your group. You’ll be safer there. And I want you to stop interacting with the locals so much. Especially that girl. Just finish the project and come home. I’ll explain it more once you’re here. You’ll just have to trust me for now.
Mind what I’ve told you. You’ll thank me once you’re back and can see things rationally again.
For your good,
Dad
= = = = =
August 7
Dear Mom and Dad,
I have some great news for you. But first I should let you know not to go to the airport on the 20th to pick me up. I’m not coming back with the rest of the group. I’ll be arranging for a different flight once we get all the paperwork finished. That brings me to my big news.
You know how you’ve always said you hope I find a nice girl to marry someday. Well, I found her! I’m so glad you talked me into this trip and told me to interact with the locals. We did it with a tribal ceremony in her village. I wish you could have been here.
Our group leader said it’s a legal marriage even though it was done locally. But now I need to stay and help her get a visa to come home with me. It’s going to take a little while; she doesn’t even have a passport yet. We’re not in the village anymore. We’re in the capital so I can go to the embassy regularly. I’m sure glad you gave me that credit card to bring. There are unexpected expenses after all. But I’ll pay you back once I get home.
Once I, that is we … (it’s going to take time to get used to saying that). Once we get home I thought we could both stay in my bedroom for a while. At least until I can get a job and afford my own apartment. I hope you don’t mind.
I know I’ll have to miss the start of this next semester. But that’s okay. I can use the time off from studying to get settled into my new life. I can get a job during the day and go to classes at night. It’ll take a bit longer to finish my degree; but I can still do it. I need to be more responsible now that I’m a family man. (Ha! That sounds so funny.) It’s like this can also be part of my education.
Don’t worry. I have everything all planned. Things will work out fine.
Love,
Tom and Limmon-iguanna
(She says it like ‘Lee-Mona-Gwanya’; but you can just call her ‘Lemon’ like I do.)
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