Mi Mama falso, pero muy real

My host mother is one of the most amazing woman i have ever met in my entire 21 year existence. Pilar Maria Romana has had a hard life and still has the happiest most caring personality i have ever witnessed. Here is her story:

When she was 2, her parents decided they didn't want to raise her anymore, so they gave her to her grandparents. 4 years later after having 3 more kids, all boys, they decided they wanted her back again. So Pilar moved from her grandparents house in Cusco to Lima, to a family she hardly knew. A few years later her parents split up in a messy divorce, and she played mom to her brothers who were having a hard time with it. She was married to a man named Manuel in her early 20s and had her daughter Claudia. Pilar, Manuel and Claudia lived in Paraguay, Argentina I believe, and Venizuella whilst Claudia was growing up. Before Claudia finished high school, Pilar and Manuel separated. I'm not sure why, but my mom says that they were still friends after the divorce. Pilar and Claudia moved back to Lima where Claudia went to college and Pilar worked to support her daughter. This was during the Sendero Luminoso, the horrible terrorist group that wreaked havoc on Peru for 15 good years. She lived though the fear and uncertainty, and through the corrupt 10 year reign of Fugimori. Before Claudia could finish college, Pilar was diagnosed with cancer, i believe uterine, but I'm not sure. With not enough money for the operation, she asked her family, and the onlly person who gave her the money was her tio in the United States. It wasn't a gift, it was a loan. In order to pay him back Pilar and Claudia had to sell their home in Lima and move to Cusco, into the house of her grandparents which was a gift to Pilar, and didn't cost her anything. This past November, Manuel died very suddenly. Now, Claudia has a boyfriend who Pilar is very against. He doesn't have a job, mooches off of Claudia, is married but "seperated" and is very disrespectful to Pilar and her house. Claudia is a completely different person around Eduardo, and not a nice one. Pilar is beside herself. She can't stand to see her daughter like this. Claudia doesn't come home for lunch anymore, doesn't call her mom, and doesn't help her with anything anymore.

I look at her life, and wonder how she can still function. The Love Pilar has in her heart for the world, for her daughter and her pets, for her friends and family, and even for me, a gringa stranger from a completely different world. One day i walked in my house form school and there were two 25 Argentinian girls sitting at the table. I asked them how they new Pilar and they said they were in the market buying food and Pilar come up to help them negotiate the prices, and then invited them over for dinner before they leave to Ecuador. She studies Andian medicine and the religion of the Inkas, and she feels for everything in the world. The bond we have, the conversations we have had, and what we have taught each other... I have never had a relationship like this before. I have three more weeks with her, and that's it before i return to the united states. I know that we will see eachother again after this adventure, but when.... i have no idea. Every time i think about leaving her i start to cry, and i won't let myself think about that right now. Its too hard.

Her Love and passion for the world has helped me so much. I will never forget this woman. I Love her so much.

******UPDATE. So my moms ex husband cheated on her, and a few years later begged her back again, so she said ok one more try. And he cheated on her again. After that my mom filed for divorce, and no matter how many times he begged her to take him back, she never did. She knew that he deserved better than that. And the while Claudia and he stupid boyfriend thing right now... its spinning out of control. My mom says she has nevr been in so much pain before.