FINDING GUAITIL

To Sue, once my travel companion and always my friend! Happy (a bit belayed) birthday , sister of the road!

"Where are you going", asked a man with a bicycle in beautiful English.
"To Guaitil", I replied.
"I am from Guaitil, but I can not take you," he smiled apologetically.
"Why are you going to Guaitil?"
"I need to meet a man named Jesus, his wife Susan and a potter Rigo."
"Yes, I know this family. Jesus is my cousin," said the man.
"HEY!" he suddenly called out to a small truck passing us.
"Look, that's him!" he said to me, jumped on his bike and was gone.

I approached the truck.
"Is your name Jesus?" I asked a young lad behind the wheel.
"Yes?" I heared the question in his reply.
"My name is Carina, I am travelling around the world. I have come to see you."

I told Jesus how on my way to San Jose, I had met his friend, a potter named Diego, how I had asked Diego for a place to learn the skill and how he had given me directions to Guaitil. I showed Jesus a short letter and the map Diego had given me.

The letter stated:
JESUS, SUSAN, RIGO.
I want to learn pottery.Please teach me in exchange for English lessons.

We drove to a little shop in the village.
"How long do you want to stay?" asked Susan, Jesuse's wife after he had told her the story.

"One month?" I asked, thinking if it was appropriate, but wishing in my heart to stay for two.
"You could learn in less time," said Susan. Indeed I had asked for too much.

Three days later Susan said I could stay forever.

February 3rd will mark two months since my arrival to Guaitil and is the date that I am hoping to continue my journey South. I have already washed my backpack as well as my sleeping bag.

Two months.

A long time or a short time?

For many reasons it feels like I´m leaving my home.

"You are like a brother that lived far away and came to visit us, " said Jesus one evening after dinner. "And now you are going back to Far Away."