La Rosita

I retreated outside the church, running away from the mass of people inside waiting to pass consult with the doctor. I just needed a moment to myself, one little moment. As I escape to a nice quiet place I sit down. However, two minutes later a slightly big shadow comes and towers over me. I turn around expecting to see a tall person, but only see a 4'9" little Peruvian woman. With a big smile on her face she calls sits down next to me and talks. I don't quite remember about what, but that was my first encounter with Rosa.

At the end of clinic Jenni and the Doc were trying to find a pension where Emily and I could eat while we were staying in Ciudad Constitucion. After all was said and done, it turned out that we were going to be eating with little Rosa. She was very gracious and welcomed us into her home.

We were all very polite and the beginning. She would feed us and even wash our clothes. It was great. This woman took her job as our caregivers very seriously. She was very loving.

Throughout those weeks I was reminded that everyone has a little freak in them waiting to burst out, especially Rosa. She had two little parakeet birds that she would treat very strangely. She painted them with nail polish on their beaks and feathers, saying that she could better see them this way. Also, she would hack at their wing with a knife and laugh while doing it. One day she got carried away and hacked off one of the little birds toes. However, on one tragic day, one of her parakeets were eaten and not to long afterwards, Rosa ate the second one. Just kidding. They were eaten by a cat, but there is no evidence that discredits suicide being an option with those birds.

Rosa would also get so excited when she would see us that she would start skipping/running to greet us. It was really funny. She was almost like a big kid. She was always introducing us to these weird men. We weren't really sure why, but we got some fruit out it.

All in all though, Rosa was a sweet eccentric woman who took good care of us.