November 2, 2009
HA! My uncle nicknamed Seba “Seba Beba,” and after that, every email from my family members regarding our return to the U.S. in 2006 came under the topic line, “Seba Beba Comes to America!”
Seba Beba is not actually coming to America anytime soon. However, I am going to answer a question someone asked in the survey about how my friends and family reacted to meeting my Chilean, then boyfriend now husband, when I first brought him back with me to the U.S.
Seba was beyond excited to go to the U.S. Previously he hadn’t been outside South America so it was a big trip he was making. He had also never lived anywhere but his mom’s house prior to coming to stay at University of Tampa, sharing a twin mattress in a dorm room the size of my current desk in a school owned apartment shared with three other girls we didn’t know at the time (one of whom is now my bestie Molly), sharing a meal plan so I had to sneak cafeteria food out for both of us in a take out box for one. He thought it was heaven.
However, after his initial excitement subsided, he realized one small thing — he had to speak a foreign language that he didn’t know much of. Anyone who knows my husband knows that he’s not a man of many words in any language. So put out of his element, his speaking prowess, on a scale of 1-10, went from like…a 4…to a 0. He became practically mute.
Honestly, this made it pretty hard for my friends and family to get to know him. My mom, stepdad and brother were probably the first to get him out of his shell. My mom speaks Spanish, Tim speaks hilarity and my brother is fluent in I’m charismatic and everybody loves me. My dad was another story. The first time he met him, he barely spoke to Seba. I think he was in denial over the fact that his baby had a serious boyfriend who came all the way from Chile to be with her.
The second time my dad saw Seba, he took us out to lunch. Seba had begged me not to tell him that we were engaged, but of course, I was so happy, and I’m such a Daddy’s girl that I wanted to share the news right away.
We ate. My dad and I chatted, Seba didn’t speak, of course. My dad got the bill and right before we were about to get up and leave I’m pretty sure I said something along the lines of, “Thanks so much for lunch, Dad, and by the way, we’re getting married pretty soon.”
I remember that at that particular day we were sitting at the bar because the restaurant we were at had been crowded when we arrived. My dad looked at me with his eyes and mouth wide open and rocked so far back in his bar stool he almost fell off it. He gave me a hug and a disbelieving congratulations and shook Seba’s hand, hugged him and patted him on the back (you know — that thing men do to greet and say goodbye to each other). I’m pretty sure he didn’t say anything else except for, “Woah. There’s no way I’m going to be able to go home and continue being productive after this!”
To his credit, he did call back later on that afternoon after he had absorbed the news, and called to properly congratulate us. Needless to say, my engagement to a Chilean was quite the shock. Now, however, he loves Seba like a son and I’m pretty sure he couldn’t be happier for us if he tried. Only took him a few years to get there. 
Kidding, Dad, kidding!
As for how the rest of my friends and family reacted, to Seba in general, some of them amazed me. I wrote about how losing touch with people that were once best friends is so hard, but you might be pleasantly surprised by who does stay in touch. To be honest, some of my once best friends really disappointed me. A few lost touch completely during college, and then even more during study abroad. Obviously I’m at fault here too. Friendships are just like romances — only the strong can survive a long distance relationship. When I went back to Tampa after being in Chile 1.5 years without visiting once, it was hard. I felt like I didn’t know people I was once close to anymore. That, combined with Seba’s lack of speech at first, made it difficult for me to resume relationships, and difficult for Seba to start them, even with friends who were once a big part of my life. So it was kind of a mixed bag.
Anyway, just so you guys know I am trying to make the improvements that people asked for in the survey, if you comment I will respond. I stopped because one of the hate mails I got from someone told me how big of a loser I am for commenting on my own blog. Aside from the fact that that person is a loser just for taking the time out to write a mean email to a perfect stranger, after that I commented less and less because I sort of wondered if that was what everyone secretly thought of me!
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PS. Take my survey! Win a photo! K, thanks, bye!
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- @dregonzrob, hahaha, eating wall paper, that's a new one. Dog whisperer dato coming your way :)
- @lanapuckett, when we get back I'll have to introduce you to @gabrielrodriguez, @sebamilla and @sebastiankaulen!
- @dregonzrob, you need the dog whisperer!!!
- Brian McBride is announcing his retirement from the game today. He will go down in history for me as my favorite U.S. player ever. LOVE him.
- Caroline and Tommy should probably stop being this hot or somebody's going to catch on fire. http://tinyurl.com/2feozcy
- Writing w/ @imnotobsessed tomorrow early! Love catching people up on their daily dose of gossip and I <3 @inosherry, my online co-worker :)
It was interesting to read about your family's reaction to Seba. My stepdad, my dad and my dad's wife are the only family members who have met Daniel, so I'm interested to see how the rest of my family will react when they meet him some day. Of course, those who do know him, love him.
By the way, don't pay attention to losers who have nothing better to do than write you insulting emails. I, for one, think it's important for people to comment on their own blogs because it adds to the sense of community and shows your readers that you're engaged and interested in what they have to say.
Comment by Katie — November 3, 2009 @ 7:11 am
Best. post title. ever!
Comment by emilyinchile — November 3, 2009 @ 11:09 am
Katie, when he meets everyone else, I hope you blog about it.
I had tried to respond to people's comments via email and stuff, but after that person who emailed me I all of a sudden got really self conscious about commenting on my blog!
Comment by kyleracine — November 3, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
I knew you'd like it
Comment by kyleracine — November 3, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
NO, Say it isn't so! I want BOTH of you to come back to U.S, next summer when G'ma is here at Sandy Pines. I'm sure there won't be many more summers where we can all get together. I want to get to see some of your photo's and share in your wonderfully exciting adventures abroad. Seba is SOOO handsome and you are so lucky. You both are so full of life and have so many stories to share with us family members. Teach that man some English and come to the U.S.
You do such good work and on a selfish note, I would like you to take a professional photo (s) of me. I would pay you, of course. My fantasy would be to dress up, professional makeup and all, and show the world ME, maybe Uncle Brian too.
Kyle, your BEST FRIENDS will ALWAYS be there for you, no matter the distance or circumstance. Those who say they are your FRIENDS, but never call or have excuses, were never real friends anyway. We love you!
Comment by judy hepp — November 3, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Aunt Judy, hopefully we will be able to come back sometime soon…as for right now I'll just be working on growing that money tree in my back yard so we can afford the flights
I'll be happy to photograph you next time we're back!!! It will be my treat!
love you,
Kyle
Comment by kyleracine — November 4, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
I want to go on record I am a victim of the artist/writer/Kyle's artistic license. I love both Kyle and Seba. But to say I was stunned at their engagement is an understatement. I was shocked when they told me. Did not see it coming. Rita, Kyle's Mom pointed out she knew as soon as Kyle extended her “studies” in South America. She also said it best – “how long were you in denial”. Dad
Comment by bruceeh12 — November 5, 2009 @ 8:53 am
I want to go on record I am a victim of the artist/writer/Kyle's artistic license. I love both Kyle and Seba. But to say I was stunned on learning their engagement is an understatement. I was shocked when they told me. Rita, Kyle's Mom said it best – “how long were you in denial”.
Comment by bruceeh12 — November 5, 2009 @ 8:55 am
Hahaha, you were in total denial!
And by the way, that's not artistic license…I think I actually under-exaggerated how shocked you were!
Comment by kyleracine — November 5, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
Awww, what a beautiful story!!! Seba beba, so cute!
Comment by GlobalButterfly — November 9, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Awww, what a beautiful story!!! Seba beba, so cute!
Comment by GlobalButterfly — November 10, 2009 @ 1:32 am