Thank you, Guardo

Today as I was walking home from school, an older woman stopped me and said (in Spanish), "I don't think I know you" with a big smile on her face. I introduced myself and explained how I was a visiting English teacher. She gave me two big kisses, introduced herself, and told me exactly where she lived in case I ever needed something or wanted to come over for coffee. This is Guardo in a nutshell.

Want to know something funny? I cried when I learned I would be teaching in Guardo. The application process was long and exhausting and when I finally got that email containing my assignment, I cried when I read I would be teaching in Guardo. But I cried because of what it wasn't, not because of what it was. I had no idea what to expect of life in Guardo so I simply cried because it wasn't familiar and the future seemed uncertain.

How many months have I lived here? Very few... I am still a newcomer. But one thing I know for sure is that I feel so foolish having cried over my assignment in Guardo because there will be a day in the future where I'll be leaving Guardo and I know that day will be full, so full of tears. Happy and sad ones.

I have so many reasons to feel thankful and most of them start with Guardo :)