Facil y Dificil

Fácil

Ask anyone who I talked to the week before I left for Guatemala- I was nervous about how everything was going to work out. Unlike HWS’s study abroad programs, this one was not completely detailed out for me. After all, the Duke Divinity Field Ed Office is just that- they organize field education placements for everyone who wants to do one, not just those of us going internationally. They don’t have time to tell us every detail of our trip, as badly as I wanted that. So, I went with faith that everything would be ok.

Things couldn’t have been smoother! The flights: easy peasy (even the 7 hour layover in Miami wasn’t that bad!). Exchanging some money: fast and painless. Getting through immigration: walked right up to the desk, no problema. The little Spanish they spoke to us I understood and responded to. (Basically the two men we all smiles at two women coming through the line). Our bags were sitting there waiting for us (we were later than the rest of the flight because we stopped at the bathroom and to get money), customs was a cinch, and Ben was waiting for us right outside. We found the woman holding the little white board with our names on it, and proceeded to a wonderful B&B for the night, and it was in a great area of Guatemala City. Got food, skyped with my family, and went to bed super early. ‘Twas wonderful.

Monday we got up nice and early and took a four-hour bus ride to Xela. This country is breathtakingly gorgeous. I had no idea it was so mountainous, and it is just so beautiful. I had a great time just looking out the window on the bus. Of course I got a little sick (headache and stomach-ache) but I knew that would happen on such a long ride.

When we arrived in Xela, we made our way to Sakribal language school, and then I met my host mom, Ericka! She is wonderful. Here are the people in my host family: Ericka y su esposo, Juan-Carlos, sus hijas Daniel (18) y Fernando (8), y la mama de Ericka, Maria. Bien. Everyone is so nice. And my room is awesome! It’s big, but the best part is that I have my own bathroom! What?? Definitely wasn’t expecting that. And the shower has better water pressure than The 504. Yup, I can definitely get used to this.

Difícil

Somehow, I am understanding and speaking Spanish. I guess being immersed is truly the way to go. It’s not pretty, but I can get my point across. I love my teacher, Odilia. She is in her 40’s, a mom of three, lived her whole life in Xela, and she’ll be my one-on-one tutor for the first two weeks. (writing this after my first day with her) We’ve done a LOT so far, and it’s only day one. I am so overwhelmed, but in a good way. Learning Spanish is going to be really hard, I already feel like my head is spinning, but it’s going to be great. Between Odilia and my family, I’ll get more confident in my speaking in no time!

Day 2, I got sick (already, ugh). Luckily I don’t think it’s anything serious. My stomach just hurt really badly all yesterday afternoon (after lunch). It was difficult to get through my lesson with Odilia, but we learned irregular verbs, opposites, and read a story about a high school boy and his love interest. Reading and listening to Spanish are easier for me at this point than writing and speaking. But the school definitely works on all 4 skills. I need to practice speaking more.

Strangely, Spanish is helping my French skills too! When I don’t know something in Spanish it often comes out in French (sometimes in Italian too), so it makes me think about the ways speaking in French and Spanish are similar and different.

Well, that’s my update for now! We have a “conference” (a talk, really) at school in 20 minutes, and I want to update pictures too! (Check out the tabs at the top for pictures!!)

Love love and more love,

Christa