The week 8/14-8/12

Sunday- Mallory and I ventured out in the world of Antigua to find a church. We located a beautiful catholic mass in the back of the most beautiful hotel/ruins I have every seen. We realized we weren't in the contemporary church we were looking for when they started lighting candles. We left and ventured out to find the contemporary church we had heard so much about in the last week.
We walked back across town from the catholic church to found the modern church just a block away from our school. The service and songs are in English and Spanish. Missionaries and students in language school are the typical demographic for this church.

School- I am now learning words and verbs beyond the ones I came to school knowing. This week has been a little frustrating for me at times because of the lack in ability to be able to communicate with my teacher. I obviously don't speak Spanish well but, I'm referring to my teacher having difficulty understanding what I was trying to say. In conversation, the native speaker often guesses what the learner is trying to say and then helps them with the words. Our conversations were a mess because she would think I was saying one thing but I was trying to say another thing. CONFUSING! I was also very frustrated with myself during a good portion of the lessons because I continue to make the same mistakes. I have to recall the words, verbs, conjugate the verb (present, past, or future) and make the words plural or singular correctly. I know everyone makes these mistakes and a lot of them when they are first learning Spanish. That realization hasn't made me any less frustrated.

After class most days this week I have wanted to cry. I don't do that a bunch so I wrote in my journal. Yesterday I sat in the beautiful and busy park to do a little writing. I was really concerned that I was having difficulty comprehending stories my teacher read to me in Spanish during class yet I could understand and respond to people in the street. I have been about to understand most of the conversation with my Guatemalan family and with locals in the streets (random people for directions and conversing with friends).

When I was writing, a guy probably in the 10th grade sat down at the bench with me. He started talking to me in Spanish and we had a conversation in Spanish for the next 2 hours. He lives in one of the villages near Antigua and told me all about the educational system and the transportation system for students. We also chatted about the kite flying festival that takes place in his home town each November. It's a big deal! His family will work on one kite for a year to 3 years before they fly it in the festival. CRAZY!

When I left the park to return home for dinner, I reflected on the experience in the park. I believe the Lord gave me that opportunity to prove to me that I can comprehend and talk. I may be having difficulties in school but I can survive in conversational Spanish after only 2 weeks of lessons. Thank God for that kid being bold enough to sit down beside me. I needed some encouragement.

Funny Thing I said in Spanish:
I meant to say: I am hungry
I said: I have men

There is a proverb in Guatemala that goes something like men are like avocados. Some are good, uncut & firm, and some become guacamole. I then said, "the guacamole is tasty" not realizing that I was referring/saying that some men are tasty. My face turned red after I said it. I figured out the meaning of what I was saying as I was saying it. Learning Spanish can be really silly!