A Farwell to Jaime

I am really sad to say goodbye to Jaime. Two years ago my host parents decided Mosiah was too hard to pronounce, and bang Jaime was born (a translation of my middle name). He looks a lot like me although he has a propensity to wear cowboy boots, have a beard and he speaks really bad Spanish. Although we look very similarly we are also very different.

Jaime is quick with a joke and quicker to smile and make fun of himself. He feels comfortable in front of a classroom and likes to work with youth. He will try anything to make a classroom laugh especially if it is at his expense. He doesn’t concern himself with career tracks or with the workings of the wider world. He is focused on how his classes are going and if his students understand his lessons. Jaime can talk about sex and give a condom demonstration to anyone without shame or worry, because he knows the growing risk of HIV in Guatemala. Jaime likes the neighbor kids and doesn’t mind putting on the kettle and talking about adolescent growing pains after a long day. Jaime likes to dance! He likes to go out with his wife and listen to music. On occasion he has been seen dancing to Bachata, Banda, and Regaton.

I seem to be much more serious. While I like to have fun I see that I can be more serious and less concerned with laughter. I also see the need to focus more on my future and try to make lasting career plans. While I like who I am I will really miss some of the more carefree characteristics that Jaime embodied. In many ways he and I live different lives and different places. Very rarely do we mix nor do I think we would do well together. For instance, Mosiah does not dance to Bachata. He hates Latin music. Jaime lives in Salcajá and very rarely makes it out of town. Mosiah on the other hand has traveled all through Central America, attends meetings for the Peace Corps and worries a lot. Does this make me sound schizophrenic?

While it took two years to fill in and make Jaime a whole person here in Guatemala sometimes it is hard for me to see him living outside of the high plains. While Jaime has been very important to me these past two years, I don’t see him being well prepared for taxes, 401Ks or job searching. While I know part of him will live on inside me I also lament the fact that much of him will leave me waiting to reemerge in a distant visit to Guatemala. So, goodbye Jaime thanks for the memories and for all of your help (I will wear the boots and beard in respect).

Mosiah