mama la la

Mama La La always says:
"besos y abrazos no hacen muchachos"
translation : "kisses and hugs don't make babies"

I must say that one of my favorite aspects of being a female volunteer is growing relationships, confianza, with the women of my family and my network of colleagues, students and friends.

This confianza came pretty quickly with my host mother, and my host mom’s muchacha (Esperanza), who is a neighbor, helper, but also a kind of family member.  We hit on the heavy topics of love, relationships, sex, children, birth control and future planning.

Today she called me and wanted to know where I have been, I had not been around for a couple weeks and ever since I mentioned a girls sleep over at my house she likes to bring it up. I don’t mind since I got her started on Almodovar movies (i.e. Volver with Penelope Cruz)… she wants to cook and watch “more of those kind” of movies at my house and I think I might just let her next time the Pato is out of town. I hate being home alone anyway ;) And muchacha can cook!

But the point is 1. I love bonds between women that transcend borders (even if there are still the cultural differences) there is a genuine relationship that grows. 2. Mama la la is funny. She is my host grandma who let me bucket bathe at her home when I first came to site.

Funny story about mama la la : She was over at the house as I was coming out of my room I heard her voice… and then my name… of course I walked slower to listen in… rough translation of what I heard

“That Krystal, she is really stubborn. Every time she comes over to bathe she never lets me wash her clothes, she says she wants me to teach her because she can do it herself” (insert offended tone).

Bless her little heart. I love me some mama la la.