Little by little, I am starting to find "life" in being here on my own.
Well, not that I have not been living it. Just not totally enjoying it.
Today was different.
My "vecino" came barging in my office door just when I was about to leave the office. In his big chucky voice, Christian blurted out "Vecina, what are you going to do tonight?" Nonchalantly, I said "nothing"--although I had my pile of laundry to do. Then he said "Ok, we'll go out tonight for some drinks with Alejandro and Claudia. Do you want to come?"
I paused for a while. But this hasn't been the first time he invited me out. I've turned him down twice already. Not because I didnt want to, but because I was too shy to go out and meet new people.
But he has been nicer to me these past few days. And besides, he is my favorite vecino. That's neighbor in spanish. Plus, he gave me a car for christmas. A toy one though. And so I said yes.
Five minutes before we were about to go, I chickened out. I didn't want to go anymore. I felt sick. I wanted to be sick. I was thinking about going to the bar and not dressed up really fancy. And I didnt want to talk to other people and talk in english. I wanted to do my laundry and I wanted to just sleep.
But I never really got to do that lame excuse. He came right down my door just before I could finish my script. So like a little girl, I followed this tall guy down the elevator and up the elevator again to pick up his car in the garage.
Long story short (plus one fancy car ride later), I was there -- sitting outside the Novecino bar where I took Dave's picture when he was here for the first time--living the "life" I only see on tv..
I had so much fun that I felt guilty for ever thinking of trying my lame excuse not to go. I did have fun.
One would smile looking at us from afar. I would if I could. Christian is Guatemalan. Alejandro is from Honduras. Claudia is Mexican. And I was the little girl from the Philippines.
My stomach hurt from too much laughing. Alejandro was a really really funny guy. The laughs we had were at Christian's expense but it was all worth it. We had a lot of funny stories--similar stupid things we did when we all started living here on the land that is not our own. It was nice looking back. It was a validation of the things that we had accomplished. Then they couldn't stop laughing at my stupid stories...washing my clothes in the bath tub for 4 months coz i was too shy to ask how the washer/dryer works...not knowing how to move the car seat forward...fainting at Costa Rica in front of all the big bosses...not looking like my age and security guards asking for my ID when I get inside casinos and bars..
Alejandro's stories of traveling an hour everday going to work and Claudia's experience in sleeping in a parking lot were remarkable--enough for me to say that I wasn't as miserable as I thought I was. Talking with them made me realize just how lucky I was--I am--with all that was 'handed' out to me. Christian insisted my employment was not an entry level. They all stressed I was lucky I had the greatest boss in the whole wide world. Plus, I was in the best department in the whole building. Having my own office was just an icing on the cake.
In between the fun and the laughter were stories of living away from the family, of getting married, of future, of losing and finding friends. Alejandro was insisting on the need to find real good friends. I was in the company of one.
I could not describe how thankful I am tonight for breaking out of my shell to meet new people. I can't stop thanking Tiana (that's how Alejandro calls Christian) for dragging my butt off my laundry..
I'm now looking forward to many more Fridays of laughter and cheers. I'm finally trying to break off the routine. I realized I could always choose to do something else. I could learn to live life in a non monotonous way after all.
The night ended by 10pm and Christian dropped me off to my house.
I walked away with a smile on my face.
I'm now going to be known as The Little Girl from the Philippines Who Fainted
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