One of the down sides of living in a tight knit, family oriented community is that if you don't have family nearby, you are at a loss for some things. Since we moved to Castro we have sorely missed Grammie, our Aunties (and Uncle) and most of all (sniff, sniff) Luisa. Saturday nights have come and gone with the siren song of Castro nightlife left unanswered. All the nice parents who give Berto and I a ride from school have called their grandmothers. All the grandmothers who make googoo eyes to Gabi on the bus are watching the grandkids. Alas, the proud profession that has kept many a high school girl in the latest fashions does not exist on the island of Chiloe. What are we to do? Without central heating, we have bought sweaters. Without peanut butter, we have spread dulce de leche on crackers. Without ground coffee I have wrapped my hands around a cup of instant coffee. But with no date night?!? we cannot face Monday.
Yesterday in the teacher's room I was bemoaning our state of affairs to my host teacher, Hugo. Hugo agreed, babysitting is something that is handled with the family. I must have muttered some pathetic, wistful thing about a dinner without upended bowls because Hugo asked what time we would be home if we went out. And then, like a genie going into his magic trunk to grant a wish, Hugo went to the hallway and came back moments later. He came back with 4 girls from the senior English class. Could it be? I held my breath. Yes! Seniors in Castro don't go to the disco till after 10 + a chance to practice English + Berto's dimples do indeed translate to Spanish + extra pesos to spend later on Saturday night are most welcome here too. Yipppee! A's for all the senior class! Date night has been resurrected.
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