You know that fish that has human teeth?

It is called the Pacu. And if my understanding is correct, that is what I ate for lunch today. And I have to tell you something: Not only was it the best fish I have ever eaten, but it's preparation was as fine as any fine dining experience of fish I have ever tasted.

I was invited into the home -- on an impromptu request, mind you -- of one of the long time workers, volunteers and foundation board members, Danny Ortiz. Danny is letting me come to a clinic he volunteers at on Saturdays so that I can use their internet and hopefully help around the clinic. And, today, we were also trying to get me new glasses. In my long list of forced "go with the flow" missteps prior to leaving, my glasses finally bit the big one and had to be super glued together in a not so aesthetically pleasing crude rendition of eyeware.

At any rate, as we neared lunchtime, Danny asked my plans to eat, which was answered with a shrug.

A call to his mother, and the door was open for me to join.

The fish was prepared by the head of the family, an elderly gentleman who I later learned has difficulty standing. I told him it was the finest fish I had ever eaten and asked if I could take his photo to send back home and brag about his culinary skills. He gracefully obliged

I wish I had taken a photo of this beautifully prepared fish. Granted, I did not take the head piece, because, um, baby steps. Another volunteer from Columbia was also at the table, and a sister and an aunt, and .... I lost track. But it was a lovely feast spread outdoors and waiting for us when we arrived. (We were delayed by a stop to the supermarket in my continued search for coffee Believe it or nor, it is almost all instant. The ground roast you steep .... very, very pricey).

I knew this was a family I will love dearly, as I struggled with the pin bones and how to remove the flesh with knife and fork.

"It is better if you eat it with your hands," the father said.

"I was trying to be respectful," I replied.

"At this table, we are all disrespectful." My kind of people.

I also had the chance to spy on a parrot, and I learned today that birds pant when they are overheated. Who knew?!? The family was very gracious about my very poor Spanish, and I was very grateful for the Colombian woman who is one of the few people I have met who spoke slowly enough for me to follow her conversation.

They promised me that if I knew more Spanish, I would find them more enjoyable ... so I promised to know more Spanish the next time I visited.

These are the people I want to be like when I grow up.