My Home

 Home

In Ecuador, in the center of the province of Zamora Chinchipe, there is a small "cantón" called Zumbi, where my grandparents' farm is located between large green mountains. You had to walk 5 minutes from my uncle's house to get to the farm and in all those minutes you could see the two story, wood colored house. Located on a large plot of land full of plantations and animals, one minute before you arrive you can see Campion, Negra and Kiara, my grandparents' dogs. One of the dogs, Kiara, had four  puppies in total, four were given to good families and when I was 16 I kept the last puppy. My little Max was excited to see his mother. 

When we arrived at our grandparents’ home we left our shoes in the laundry and washed our hands. I went upstairs and saw my grandmother cooking "caldo de pollo" and some rice to eat for lunch. My heart fills with happiness quickly.

Waiting until we were all at home to eat I lay down on my grandparents bed and enjoy a nap, it is my favorite place at home I heard my grandfather said name, I quickly went out to see him he had cacao in his arms is one of my favorite fruits I put everything in his arms on the table and hug the person I love most in my life, and maybe his hugs are my home and his house is where I always want to be so I never miss him.

  In my memory there is always him, a man of about 78 years old, with brown skin that was burned by the sun, medium height, his eyes are light brown and I can see them tired from his hard work. His name is Manuel, he likes to wear dark colored cloth pants and most of his shirts are white with thin lines of color. He likes to cultivate and help people, he is devoted to his Christian religion and helps the nuns in the convent of the town. Everyone knows him and knows how straight he is, the whole town respects him. He is also a great father, a little strict but he has a lot of love in his heart. The time came when his family started to grow, he has nine grandchildren in total. 5 boys and 4 girls. I’m his 3rd granddaughter. 

Of all his grandchildren he raised one of them since she was born, me. He taught me to be responsible, to be an excellent student, to paint, to add, to subtract, to think and to help others. 

Also, he took me to the park to play with the kids in town and taught me how to ride a bike and every time I got hurt in the park, he would stay longer until I got better because grandma would be mad about the new scratch on her girl.

 

His birthday is December 24, the whole family goes to a restaurant, he almost doesn't get excited about Christmas, everyone's happiness is to have Manuel with us. As the years go by he becomes a little more stubborn, his love for his family is still intact and now he almost doesn't hear, he cries when I call him and says he misses me. He wants to try a smart cell phone so he can make video calls and take pictures to send to his family, so he doesn't feel so much the distance that separates me from him.

                                       

  After all this, how can I not admire this great man who patiently taught me to say "I'm sorry" when I have to. He is the one who told me to always follow my dreams no matter how crazy they seem. I can cry and laugh with no problem. 

And because of him I am, I am the one who follows his dreams no matter how bad things happen I always look to my future. Because grandpa also taught me to be perseverant. 

I follow his example so I can be like him one day.  I don't have so much to say about myself, maybe I still need to learn to know who I am but now I am happy to know who my home is.