Yesterday I spent a lovely morning in Santiago with Patricia, the new teacher for the new learning center in Solola. That is her to my right in the photo. (The other lady randomly decided she wanted to be in the phototoo!) We took the launch across the lake, and then a tuk tuk to visit a school run by "Amanda" of estrella del mar and watched th preschool class. It was quite enchanting watching to class of preschoolers engage with their teacher who integrated and intertwined Tsututil and Spanish constantly, changing back and forth flawlessly as she essentially taught the kids Spanish too! It was also delightful to share time with Patricia and we had a lovely chat over lunch about life and dreams and women's roles in the world---in Spanish, no less. Perla, you would be proud!
I enjoyed Easter dinner with the staff at Friendship Bridge last night, said my goodbyes this morning, and made the four hour trip p and over the mountains and down into Nebaj with Salvador this morning, once again chatting in SPanish the whole way...truly amazing thqat I can communicate at all, so this makes me hopeful for my progress.
I write this from the internet cafe, La Red, y restaurant near their hostal in Nebaj. I just met a Fulbrighter in country doing research on women's rights who has spent time off and on in Nebaj. SO now I am not alone, as she gave me her contact info and offered her help. So now I don,t feel so totally alone !
So glad you are meeting friends so quickly and are having so much fun speaking Spanish! You look happy in the photos--that is good to see. Love hearing how you are doing. Take care.
ReplyDeleteAnne & Howard
Hey Anne and Howie,
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how fun it was to find your comment right now! I am in the restauant in Nebaj where the development workers hang out, and here I have met a couple of n9ice people that I have cvhatted with. But they were travelers, and then they leave! One gal is doing a FUlbright and is based in Antigua; we exchange dinfo and i may see here again. Today I started my Spanish classes for this week, and loved my teacher. He is an older man, very small, maybe my age, maybe older, I cannot tell. And after I finihs lunch here I am moving to the house of my family, for at least a week. Snd one more new thing, I met the two teachers at the olearning center this morning and will return there alter today. Than bank machines haven't had any money for three days; fortunately I brought $ "for an emergency" and was able to exchange them inside the bank this morning! That was a bit unnerving, havingno moeny! SUpposedly there will be money in the machines tomorrow...we shall see! If not I may have to go back to QUiche which is a bigger city. So it has been exciting! I sat in the park by the church yesterdy and painted for a few hours---surroudned by kids and thier parents, chatting away in my feeble Spanish. The painting isn't great, but the company was wonderful and the kids so charming! Eventually when I get myself settled here I will post some photos of Nebaj! OK< bye for now! Thanks for writing!-Pammy
Hey Pam! It sounds like you are having a wonderful experience so far. Isn't it amazing how your Spanish develops so quickly? I imagine you will become a "fixture" in the plaza painting away. Also that contact you made with the Fulbright student sounds like a great connection since she is essentially studying the same topic as you are.
ReplyDeleteMe parece que los ninos te han caido muy bien tambien. Los ensena el ingles y el arte, si? Su escuela de ingles esta conectada con tu insituto del espanol, o que? Espero que la casa, en que te quedas, sea muy comoda, chiquilla. Estamos en contacto por aqui. Beso. Norma