We’ve now been in Caracas for one month and I thought I would do a self check-up on how we are adapting.

I remember at the end of the kids’ first week of school, I had this feeling as though the situation were temporary. I don’t know if it was because most of the move thus far had felt a bit surreal (it has not sunk in that I now live Venezuela) or if the first week came and went so fast. It made me think of the previous times they had started school and how I felt about it then. While I may have felt a bit of nostalgia, I don’t think it felt so transitory.

I know that a lot of these feelings have to do with the stress that we have been feeling since the earthquake in Haiti, but I can’t help but wonder how long this feeling will last. When I lived abroad during college, I think the excitement overpowered any other feelings (even homesickness) and I can’t recall feeling anything but that.

As for my Spanish, I am noticing that I understand a lot more of what people say. I have confirmed that Venezuelans tend to speak a bit fast – I guess like New Yorkers speak English – so that doesn’t help. Once things settle down a bit more, I plan on signing up for a course and/or enlisting the help of a private tutor. In the meantime, I am not afraid to say “como?” and “no entiendo”

I still find Venezuelans to be extremely polite and thoughtful and I have been overwhelmed by their support for Haiti during these times. So much so, that I will dedicate an entire post to tell more about their efforts — stay tuned…

Photo credit: a.drian

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