Hello all! I need to apologize
for not being up to date on my blog. I
should being doing better, and I hope you can find it in your hearts to be
forgiving.
First thing’s first: happy holidays!
I’ve been told that this part of the year is the worst for homesickness,
but I don’t know that I’ve really been experiencing any thus far. This might have something to do with the fact
that it feels like 104˚ Fahrenheit right now at 4:30 in the afternoon. (Not an exaggeration, http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/PY/Asuncion.html.)
I continue to feel like I fit in here as the time passes. I’m extremely grateful to be working at La
Amistad with kids who enjoy being around me.
It never fails to make my day when kids yell “TIA SARAH!!” and run over
to give me a group hug. Yes, it’s as
adorable as it sounds. I’m thankful for the
abundance of unbelievably delicious (and cheap or free-depending on the type)
fruit. I’m grateful for the beauty
around me. I notice something different
every day: trees, flowers, clay roofs in contrast to the blue sky, et cetera. I’m grateful for being accepted. I continue to be overwhelmed by the
hospitality that I’m shown at home, in homes of others, at church, and at
work. I’m grateful for friendships that bring
joy to my day. People all around me joke
and love and care and laugh and share and it’s beautiful. Life really is good!
Some things aren’t easy, though, when living in a previously unfamiliar
culture. For me, the language barrier
has been really tough. I never fully
appreciated being able to communicate with those around me when I was
surrounded by English speakers. I find
myself becoming frustrated with not being able to fully communicate with people
when I want to and especially when I feel like I need to. My Spainish improves daily, yes, but it’s not
yet self-sustainable (a term I stole from Sam), and I continually wish that it
was. When it’s the worst, I feel
insecure, unintelligent, and ditsy. I feel
as though I’m not taken seriously because I speak like a babbling two year old. To be able to say what I want to say and to
be able to fully understand what those around me are saying would be divine.
I’ve found that I cope with not being able to fully communicate a few
different ways. First, I laugh a lot.
Several times I’ve been trying to say something, come to a complete road block,
and started giggling uncontrollably. I
suppose in some situations one can choose to laugh or to cry, and I love
laughter. I also use hand motions or
make weird noises. It’s like I have
learned to communicate like an ape, and some of the people around me have
learned to understand me. Example: I refer
to the blender in the kitchen at school as the ‘eeeerrrrrrrr’ and do a swirling
motion with my hand, and Vidalina, the amazingly fantastic cook, always knows
what I mean. Also, I apologize a
lot. People are so forgiving and so patient
with me but still I feel awful about being such a pain. Communication is extremely complex when
everyone is fluent in the same language; it’s especially hard when not everyone
is confident in saying what they wish to say.
In light of the holiday season, I was wondering if you would all do me
a huge favor. Huge, but simple. I’m asking you this because I’ve been having
such a hard time communicating, and because I assume that I’m allowed to give
you all small homework assignments. I’d
like you to be extra patient with the people that you have a hard time communicating
with. I realize that most of you don’t deal
with people who aren’t fluent in your language on a daily basis, but I’m sure
that there are people in all of your lives with whom you’ve found it hard to
connect. So in this holiday season, try
a little harder to understand one another.
Work a bit more at connecting with each other. Be patient, be kind, be understanding. If not for yourselves, then in solidarity
with me.
Much love,
Sarah
