There is so much to write that I can't possibly write it all now. That's the problem with blogging. You need time, lots of time, to sit down and do it. Down here in Venezuela, I haven't had a moment to myself for more than ten minutes. Now that's not a bad thing. In fact, that's why I have so much to say. But even now my new uncle-in-law is strumming a cuatro and dancing around the living room of Lena's family house while her brother plays the mirachas and whenever I look up at them they beckon me to join in. Alba, my mother-in-law, just walked in with two of my new cousins and Lenhart, my father-in-law, is on the way home from a business trip to the tiny country of Curacao. When he arrives, we're all going to pack into the Chevy and head for the beach, a four-hour trip. It's already 6PM. Write, Stephen, write fast.

Lena and I packed the bags two days ago. This is my last night in the Saldivia household, which is sad. I've come to call this place home, I've come to call the people in it my family, and they have come to call me one of their own. I've never been so honored in my entire life.

It's been an exciting ride, too, if a bit bumpy at times. My Spanish is only OK, good enough to count past 1000 and speak a few verbs in the past tense, but not good enough to converse. More on that in a later post. Also, for the past four days I've played host to a gifted virus, which has been delighting in my completely unexperienced intestines. I've been to the restroom, lets see, six times today already. The country also has insecurity problems, as the police are merely window-dressing and violent crime is as common as palm trees. All in all, these have been minor issues when compared to the complete experience, but strangely I find tragedy easier to twist into comedy than simply making comedy itself.

The only other country I've spent a considerable amount of time in was Korea, and be prepared for a lot of comparisons. The hallmark of Korea was a culture that emphasized order and control, a country with nearly zero crime and high security imposed by a crushing unwritten social contract. Venezuela the opposite. Venezuela is a free-wheeling culture that emphasizes friendliness, brotherhood and the power of friendship. Perfect strangers can become best friends in seconds here. In Korea, if they didn't know you, it was like you didn't exist.

Both cultures emphasize the family, and in Venezuela I have been immersed in it, and thus my cultural experience here has been much, much richer than any other international trip I have ever made. And my life here is just beginning. Even now Lena and I are talking about how we can make a life here.

Well, that's it. Lenhart is almost home. It won't be five seconds through the door before he starts pushing everyone to get back into the car and head strait for the beach where he can rent a small boat and do what Lenhart does best: Fish!

Notes