Meeting mum and the rest of the family

Meeting the host family is a very important issue. The first impression is critical. If positive, the rest of the stay is fluid like water coming out from a fountain. Otherwise, the water will be stocked in a swamp and nobody will have a good time.

Amelia (I'll refer to her as mom from now on), is supposed to be waiting for me at Kaoshiung train station. We haven't talked before. Everything I know is that she's a Spanish teacher. That's very convenient. I like teachers, and is good that she can speak Spanish. We can communicate also in English and I can use my super basic Chinese for emergencies or for fun (everybody laughs at me and tells me that I have a funny accent) but sharing another language guarantees more aspects in common.

I also know that the rest of the family is formed by a student girl named Silvia and her brother Justin, that is studying in Canada. I know all this because Silvia sent me an email some weeks ago. In the email she also asked about me, what food i'd like to try and what places I would like to visit. That was very nice of her.

Mom is not at the train station, but she arrives in two minutes. She looks young and energetic, and comes running towards me, stressed, worried for being late. It is not a problem at all, because I am with a volunteer from SayTaiwan organization that is taking good care of me.

Amelia gives me a big smile when she recognizes me. Besides her, there is a boy. He must be Justin. Doesn't speak much, I see. Later I'll learn that the main reason of this behavior is shyness. With a bit of time he becomes more confident. Some night hanging outs also help. About Amelia I'll discover that she's very organized, generous, caring and... a bit clueless.

We get on well since the very first minute. We both love cooking. One day, we'll do a cooking session at home. Paella, gazpacho and Spanish omelette in my side. Dumplings and who knows what other delicious surprises in hers.

It's pretty late already. She also looks tired. Justin is in bed. Pity that I wont meet Silvia, as she's abroad till the end of the month. Instead, tomorrow Jessica, my "cousin", will join us.  Before going to bed we set up the schedule for the whole two weeks. I feel pretty happy about what we came out with. I was thinking about the possibility of traveling on my own for few days, as I know other participants will be doing, but I take experiencing more as living than as seeing. So I don't care about visiting the most of the country but as taking the time to really enjoy what I am visiting. A conversation in front of a coffee better than a picture in front of a temple. And I love my host family. They are really creating an experience for me.