Que extraño! Jeff and I showed up at our go-to coffee shop, Café Blintz, and the place was packed
because the local TV station is interviewing all the beauty queens from last week’s pageants. We
shamelessly came here everyday, so that the owner lady quickly ushered us to the only table left
upstairs, giving us the perfect view to the filming process. All the little girls were absolutely adorable
and so well spoken. What a fun experience for us and great opportunity for Blintz!
Jeff and I began our process of saying good-bye to Xela today, muy triste… ICA held a little graduation
ceremony for us today and our teachers gave a mini-speech and handed us stiff, colorful diplomas to
make it official. Jeff, that gunner, also surprised us by preparing a wonderful speech. He really worked
hard these last few weeks and his speech incorporated a variety of grammar and vocabulary. The proud
look on Carlos’ face was unmistakable.
I promised my teacher that there’d be no drama on our last day. He taught at ICA for 8 years and
apparently had seen a range of emotions, lasting relationships, and of course, forgotten promises. We
went on our daily business of grammar and vocabulary lessons. We sipped our hot beverages (courtesy
of ICA) and shared a delicious baked goodie. We shared stories about families, relationships, his past
students and my patients. Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, and at the same time, everything was
absolutely perfect.
Xela really has grown on us in the last 3 weeks. We’re doing many routine things for the last time and
we want to remember everything! The stores and shops we frequent have been very kind to us. Café
Blintz, for example, is our 3rd home outside of our house and school. We will miss the lovely family who
runs the place and take such good care of us. Walking down the familiar streets now means so much
more. Jeff even waits patiently while I obsessively take photos of little pretty thing that I remember
liking.
Too darling for words.
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