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Instantly there was a flurry of activity as I was shown to one of the 5 rooms in the house where, to my surprise and delight, there was a bed. I had been told I would be sleeping on the floor. When you look at a concrete floor and then see a bed, you start to realize how blessed you really are. Gabe's Dad proudly brought in a table which I assumed was for storage purposes while we were in Bordonal. I put my bag on the floor, but he anxiously said, "No! Arriba de la mesa!"

Startled, I followed his instructions and put my bags on the table. It was only later I remembered what he had said and knew I had comprehended my first, actual Spanish phrase used in a legitimate conversation and not a classroom setting..."No! On top of the table!" This, actually, was one of the happiest moments of my life up to that moment.

After settling into our rooms, we went out to a small, attached room that was still not part of the house. I should explain that. The house itself is made almost entirely of concrete. This includes the floor, roof, walls, and everything structural that I could see. The attached room, however, was a lean-to of wood with actual gaps in the walls. It was the kitchen/dining room and very much a part of the house while still having a completely different feel to it. In the kitchen, Techo, Tydae's wife, had prepared dinner for us.

It was carne asada with tortillas, salsa, and a few condiments I did not recognize. We also drank lemonade. Not dehydrated and reconstituted, not fortified with minerals and vitamins, not commercial...no, this was really lemonade. It was made from fresh picked and squeezed lemons. I can still taste it. It was so good. In fact, of the many things I tried for the first time in Bordonal, that is probably still my favorite.

The rest of the night was a blur. Gabe and I wandered the town. He greeted friend after friend, relative after relative. Most of them knew Deb, all knew Gabe, and none knew me.

For some reason, and quite uncharacteristically, when I try to use Spanish I panic. My calm, self-assured personality disappears and in its place is a nervous, shy boy. That made the experience of meeting numerous people very difficult as I again forgot the greetings I learned over a year ago in the very first class and have used almost every day since then.

The people put me at ease very rapidly, however. Everyone was smiling and relaxed. They seemed pleased and excited to meet someone new. Not me specifically, just SOMEONE new. For many of them, I was only the 2nd or 3rd white person they had ever seen...my sister being the first and our cousin Brenda the second.

It was a long day but a good day. It started in San Jose, California, United States of America, passed through Phoenix, Arizona in a rush, passed through Ixtapa, Mexico at a relaxed pace, and ended in Bordonal, Michicoán, United States of Mexico. Despite the heat, I slept very well.