Big hugs. Long hugs. Side hugs……
I'm just not really a hug person. I don't hug most people when I see them. I definitely don't hug strangers. I remember meeting my college roommate (Amanda)'s then boyfriend, Norm. (they are married now 🙂 we were talking out in the parking lot and I was throwing small rocks at the bats… Norm told me that if I threw them close enough that the bats would dive. Turns out, he is correct; although, I was only successful once. When it has time to go, I awkwardly refused to hug Norm. I didn't matter that he was the boyfriend of my friend. I don't hug strangers.
Imagine for a minute. I'm in a culture where not only does everyone hug but often they kiss me on the cheek. Now imagine that if I refuse that, I'm insulting them. This is my reality right now. And… My Spanish is not very good so I can't even talk my way out of offending them.
This has really been coming into play at Casa Maria. Mostly we sing and play games or draw; but, sometimes we attempt serious conversation without any serious Spanish on our part. This can be considerably frustrating and very tiresome. Furthermore, some of them don't talk at all. Some don't talk often. Some don't talk loudly enough to hear. Some don't talk in sentences that make any sense at all even when you do understand them. This has forced us find other means of communication.
Like I said, I'm not really a physical touch kind of person. I generally only hug people that I know really well and like really well. God is really teaching me how much communication can be done through touch. There is one lady, Cristina, that will just hold my hand and smile at me. She rarely even tries to talk to me. Another lady is blind. When we get there each day, she tells me Buenas Tardes and kisses me on the cheek. Clara, if you let her have your hand, will pull you down into hug that is nearly impossible to escape. In this hug, she rubs her cheek on your face or arm or whatever part of you is closest.
A hug or hand conveys greeting, affection, security, love and trust. These people want to experience all of these things but there is no one to show them love. No one to be their support. If it takes physical touch to show them love then so be it. I will hold their hands. I will give them the longest hugs known to man. I will rub their backs and rest my hand on their shoulder. Who am I to refuse when I can give something so little to convey so much?
