Living with an American

Living with an American

Well… I decided to write this time about how it is for me ( a Guatemalan teacher) to live with a gringo. I guess its because a lot of my friends have asked me the same question, and every time they do this they have this look in their eyes as if we were going to discuss one of the most intriguing and forbidden topics of the era.  Although it seems silly to me ( as living with a gringo is no different from living with a European or Chinese if you ask me, after all, a person is a person) for some people here in my country it is a serious issue, as they honestly think the Imperialists are here to invade and conquer us one more time!!

Anyways, it’s wonderful.  And it does not have to do with the fact he is from the United States, It is because of the way he is. He is polite, tolerant, sharing, giving, caring… He likes long walks and talks. He´s very observant and attentive, not just with me but with our kids.  A family guy. And this has nothing to do with where he is from but with the values he was raised with. Once I read that a man who treats his wife as a princess has been raised by a queen. I know now this it totally accurate. My mother in law has done such a wonderful job raising this man that my life will never be long enough for me to thank her for that. Now I hope I can do the same for my future daughters in law. Raise men who cherish and respect their wives, who see in them as partners and not as a responsibility or a nice, good looking girl to show off.  Men who value family more than money, nice vacations or material stuff.

He is not perfect though.  But nobody is after all… And yes! We do have arguments, but we talk through them and solve problems as a couple should do…  And even when we are having one of those moments in which we are truly mad we still talk to each other and say I love you. Because it is the situation, not the person, what got us upset in the first place.

Sometimes we get the dirty looks while walking together … Sometimes it’s a look for me… Usually another girl or woman like saying how can a woman like her be with such a handsome guy?.. sometimes it is him… usually an old person like saying… what is this invader doing here and with one of our women?  We look past that and keep walking. Some people are nice to us, some of them are rude… Like that bus driver who did not want to finish his bus route just because he did not like us together in his bus.  Anyways, every time this happens we hold hands, we keep walking and standing tall… Because there will be always someone who does not like to see us together, someone who will criticize… someone who will try hard to break us apart for whatever reason.

In a few words I can say: It is wonderful to live with him, not because he is from the States but because of the great man he is!!!And that my friends sums it all up!!