My Peruvian Family Left to Right: Tia Romel, Liva, me, Lily In Front: Valeria y Dayana |
From the time I first arrived in Ucupe, I found a big, loving family waiting for me with open arms.
Livia
My Host Mother SISTER
Livia is a petite Peruvian and devout Catholic. She once spent 8 years on-and-off living in Argentina with a family as their “empleadora” – a person who cooked, cleaned, and took care of the children. In this way, she is accustomed to the role of caring for someone and does exceptionally well making sure my every need and want is filled – almost to a fault. She also has a keen understanding of what is means to live in another country away from family and for this understanding I am most grateful.
Livia’s mother died this past March on March 11, a day before her 72nd birthday. The family is currently observing the one-year mourning period. All adult members of the family wear only black, do not attend parties, and do not dance. I will soon add a post about what it is like to live with a family in mourning – just another adventure.
Livia frequently explains to me how she lived alone after her mother’s death before I moved in; however, 5 other people sleep in our house every night and even more spend every evening in our living room, watching TV and chatting. And so, Livia, along with 4 other people make up my “immediate” family here.
By
joining Livia’s family I joined a big, extended family. Livia’s mother was one of 8 children – 5
girls and 3 boys. One of the daughters
and one of the sons live in Lima and I have not met them. Livia’s mother, as I mentioned, recently
died. This leaves 3 aunts who are very
involved in my house and daily life: Nelly, Romel, and Nicol.
Tia
Romel, her daughter Lily, Lily’s daughter Dayana, and Romel’s other
granddaughter Valeria all sleep in my house every night along with Livia’s friend
Peta.
Romel
My Aunt Romelia, called Tia Romel, is always happy and enjoys being the jokester. She and her husband have a house in the campo within walking distance from me. She spends her days there and her evenings/nights in my house. There is a neat outdoor kitchen area, fields where they grow squash and corn, a great garden with beautiful roses and avocado trees, and lots of animals including chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, a pig, and a dog.
Romel
has 3 children and at least 4 granddaughters that I know. 2 children live in Lima and her youngest
daughter Lily lives with us.
Valeria
My Niece Valeria is my 8-year-old niece. Her father Juan Carlos, is the oldest son of Tia Romel. He, his wife, and their other 2 daughters live in a town in the department of Lima but Valeria lives here in Ucupe with multiple aunts as surrogate mothers. I met her mother and sisters on their visit when I came on my site visit in August.
As I understand it, Valeria’s family was visiting here when she was very young and she got very sick. Her mother was pregnant with her younger sister and needed to return to Lima. Unable to make the trip, Valeria stayed here to get better. After some time, the family decided Valeria had gotten use to life here and would remain here indefinitely.
She is cared for by Livia, Tia Romil, and Lily and now I share in the daily tasks of getting her homework done, making sure she baths, ect. She is full of energy and your typical 8 year old girl who would rather play outside with friends then sit down to study Peruvian religion before test day. And life with her is what I would guess a typical relationship of a much older sister with a much younger sister – 16 year young sister to be exact. To Valeria, everything I have or do is exciting and should be shared, or even just given to her. Including my attention. We have lots of fun but sometimes doors just need to be shut for a minute ;)
Lily with her daughter Dayana |
My Cousin/Sister/BFF
Liliana, called Lily (pronounced LeeLee), is Romel’s 29-year-old daughter. She has her mother’s sweet disposition and a smile and laugh that can quite literally brighten any day. She loves to include me in anything she is up to from painting her nails to going to buy shoes to going to birthday parties and dancing until the next morning.
My Niece
Dayana is Lily’s 5-year-old daughter and literally the light of my day. She is a burst of energy and cutest thing you’ve ever seen. When the popular (and terribly overplayed) song “Soy Soltera” comes on the radio, she dances with more sass than I’ve ever seen. A smile and hug from Dayana will quickly stop any headache or confusion with this sometimes frustrating society.
The other person who sleeps here most nights is Peta, Liva’s best friend. I have my own room, as required by Peace Corps. The other 6 people sleep in one room in 3 beds; however, 5-year-old Dayana likes to beg her mother and aunts for permission to sleep with “Tia Carolina” and I can hardly object to her big smile.
While
the entire community does an excellent job of being my family while I am away
from my family, these are the people I more or less spend every day with and,
as such, are the ones who expect and who have specifically requested to be on
my gift list should I find time to visit the states. (All of us are pictured together at the top)
I
realize this is one of those posts that goes on probably too long but I could
go one forever about my family here just as I can about my family at home and I
look forward to sharing more of my adventures with Livia’s family over my two
years with them.
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