Getting into the swing of things!

Well we have been here a little over a week! I have to say, I am liking it more than I had expected to! I don't feel completely isolated (yet.. although we still have 7 weeks here :) I know enough Spanish to get by, and it is getting better every day! I had know idea that life in Latin America was so nice! Our helper in the house, Johana, is amazing! She is a really good cook, and has a good eye for detail so the house always looks spotless, and she is great with the kids! I guess her last job was taking care of some kids so she is used to it. Charlie adores her and he follows her around the house all day. Emma is still warming up to her, but she told her "Ciao!" when she left yesterday. So I guess we are making progress :) Another thing I love here is that everyone is so nice! I don't know if we just live in a great area, but everyone is very understanding of the fact that my Spanish is terrible. They try to communicate with me the best they can, and people are always going out of their way to help hold open the door when I am pushing a stroller, or helping to push it up a hill on the walking path here if I am also carrying Emma. Not to mention Carlos' family!! They have been just great, and I am so lucky that we are here with them! His mom has been taking me shopping, and she even flew my mom to Bogota to help her get to the right place and make sure that she got into the right gate!

The place we live is amazing! Even though we don't have a car yet (Hopefully next week!!) I can feel a little independent by walking around the complex, going to the park, or the pool, and one of Emma's favorite pastimes: feeding the fish in the pond! The pool here is pretty much from my dreams. It has a pretty big baby pool that no one really uses! Every time we have gone there is no one there, and maybe one or two kids filter through on their way to the big pool. We would never have gone to the pool at home. First of all, I can't handle two of them in water where they can't reach the bottom. Second, our neighborhood pool in Mason is usually frequented by older adults who don't want to be bothered by kids splashing around when they are trying to relax. This area is so much more kid friendly. We had a great family trip to the pool this morning actually!

Overall, I am so happy that we made the choice to come here. The scenery is amazing, we get to finally hang out with his family, the people here are so friendly and helpful, and the way of life is just so relaxed and comfortable! I am definitely missing my family already, but I know that it will get easier over time and I know that they will love it here too when they come to visit!

Now off to a family dinner date with Ivan and Kristel and the kids!