My Angel, Angels

Tidbits of things I’ve learned from my host mom:

-Mixed ethnicities are subjectively more beautiful, and genetically more advanced than homogenous races. Because evolution normally fixes problems with time, a combination of solutions results in complete prevention of certain issues that need not occur in order to be solved. (Science that I can actually keep up with, and that piques my interest? Thanks, PhD-certified madre!). Russell Peters was right – soon the world will be beige.

-On April 3rd, Catalans celebrate the enhanced equivalent of Valentine’s Day, Dia de San Jordi. On this day, the city is filled with roses and books. Authors come for signings, stores give discounts on novels and gift roses to customers, and everyone walks around giving or receiving flowers. The entire city is out and about, meeting up with loved ones and showing them with smiles and flowers that they are an important part of their lives. Unlike the American counterpart, you don't need a significant other to partake, or feel included. 

-Not only is it very normal for people to marry after age 30, but it’s also very normal that a couple has a child, with only a possible intention of later getting married. "Out of wedlock" doesn't exist with a negative connotation here, because on this side of the sea, it's the norm. Being single – male or female – is not anything to be bashful of, which depicts the importance Catalans place on independence and a life well lived, by whichever means suits the person. Despite the inferiority of women that Angels has suffered firsthand in the workplace, at the very least, las chicas are able to remain Dignified Derulos by flying solo.

-People are beautiful: somos iguales. When you look at a person, you don’t look at anything outside of the fact that they are another human being, and you love them for that. Stop trying to find love, and stop trying to classify – both will do equal harm, as both contain a dangerous motives. Concentrate on (and only on) knowing someone’s inner, despite all other identifying factors. After all – is there any other label as important as the one you yourself give?

-Give back, give back, give back. If you’re retired, you have time. Use that luxury to give others the necessities. Make connections with people who are in the same quagmire you once found yourself in, don't you wish someone had lent you a hand back then? Remember just how lucky you are before you complain. Of course if you're suffering, you cry. You sob the whole chunk out and don't be a closed off weirdo, but then you move on. Because if you don't, everyone else will move on without you.

It's almost as if CIEE knew I eat this philosophical talk up like candy. Kudos, organizers - I couldn't have asked for a better suited woman.