Twins...

Well, if it had been September, October, November or December, Andoni would have been treated to a Vikings game. My favorite sport is Football. It basically takes over my life for a period of time. Football is to me like soccer is to Andoni. And the Vikings are my team.

But this is July; this is Baseball season. And what better way to spend a beautiful summer evening than at a Minnesota Twins game.

Baseball is often called "America's Game". It is as much a part of American culture as Soccer is in the Basque Country. Baseball is very unique. You probably have to grow up watching it to really appreciate it. What other major sport does not have a clock? In what other major sport does the defense possess the ball 99.9% of the time? And, much like all 4 major sports in the US (Football, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball), the game is rarely "out of reach", meaning, that your team always has a chance to come back and win, no matter what the score. For some reason, the idea that the fight is never over seems to be very important to Americans. While we have come to love soccer in recent decades, and our teams are competing well on the international stage, if a soccer team is winning 3-0, the game is often times considered over. Americans who have never played soccer will not watch it because of this. Americans can't relate to a game being over at halftime. We are addicted to "the comeback" - the heroic, come-from-behind victory. In fact, a famous American baseball player from the 1950s, Yogi Bera, has a classic quote, "It isn't over till it's over." We grow up hearing quotes like that. And Baseball definitely meets the criteria.

Baseball is very interesting, too, in its pace. Unlike most sports, it is relaxing to watch. It is slow-paced. Andoni described for me how he feels when he is watching Athletic Bilbao play - the intensity. I feel the same way watching American Football. My heart is beating for three straight hours when the Minnesota Vikings are playing. But in baseball, the atmosphere is laid back. Sure, there are moments of drama. But the "action" of a baseball game is different. There is plenty of time to turn to your friends and talk. Time to sit back and enjoy a drink or a hot dog. For this reason, baseball is boring to most foriegners. But Americans enjoy the paradox of relaxing at a sporting event. Baseball is woven into our culture.

And, while I don't really love baseball, I can appreciate it. And I enjoy relaxing at a game from time to time.

Andoni got to take in a Minnesota Twins baseball game today. He asked dozens of questions and I did my best to teach him what I know. It is hard to pack a lifetime of culture, terminology, and rules into 3 hours. But, since there is no reason to hurry at a baseball game, we took it slow. And the pace of the game made it easy to teach someone who was eager to learn.

We had a great time. Baseball and Andoni. Two cultures colliding. America's passtime, a boy from the Basque Country, a family with four daughters, all in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ironically, this ultra-cultural event was the climax of our time together. Don't get me wrong, this was not the most fun thing we did together. But it was an event we had been looking forward to since Andoni first met us at the train station. It represented not only his last night here, but also the pinnacle of our relationship with him. We know him today better than we did yesterday. We have grown closer and more at ease with him. That first evening at the train station is a distant memory. That boy we met then is not the same boy that sat next to me at the game tonight. Today, our last day together, felt very natural, as if he had been here for years.

Tomorrow he goes home. Tomorrow we say goodbye to our little friend.

It has been a wonderful time. Andoni is a sweet boy. He is no push-over, and yet he is tender hearted. He is gentle and kind. He has a good sense of humor. And he is considerate. Andoni's parents should be proud of their son. And they will be pleased with his growth in the English language. He has gotten to see a lot and participate in even more. And while I can't speak for all Americans, nor do I think we represent the average family in the US, we tried to expose Andoni to the world as we know it.

I have few regrets with Andoni. We did as much as we could and we had a great time doing it. Janna did a wonderful job of keeping the schedule full. Quinn did a great job of sharing her dad with a stranger. Gillian did a great job of entertaining. Aubrey did a great job of acting like nothing was new. And Shelby discovered a brother. All of us will be sad to see him go.

I hope Andoni had a good time, although I think there is little doubt. I hope he saw a family that is not only close to each other, but is even closer to God. I hope he saw a dad who loves his wife and his daughters. And I hope that Americans were well represented by this little family in Minnesota.

Thanks for the opportunity to share Andoni with us.

May God bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you,

Jeff

This is Janna here now. I am grateful that Jeff wrote this post, because I know I could not have done it as eloquently. I am so glad that Andoni came to our home and into our lives. We will never forget this time and we will all miss him very much. It seems wrong that he is leaving now when we all have gotten so much more comfortable with each other. My favorite moment was when my mother-in-law asked him what had been his favorite thing while he was here. She said, "Was it the cabin, the Mall of America, or some of the other things?" And Andoni thought for a moment and replied, "We have done very many special things here and they have been fun, but it was the times together talking and just being together that were the best." I agree. There is no better memory than connecting personally with someone. We have grown to love Andoni quite a bit. He can add "Northrup" to his long list of surnames, we will always feel he is one of ours. Thanks to his whole family for sending him here and letting us into your lives a little bit. With love, Janna