TripTracker.net - Central American Tour, Casa V

brendandroz

Central American Tour

Casa V

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Jan 25 2010, 03:15 PM

12 photos

2 comments

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Traveler

brendandroz

Journal

Location

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

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I will begin where I am. We live approximately 90 seconds from our school, just around the corner in a cement compound. All the houses here have the outward appearance of cement compounds. Inside it is much more welcoming, if not for the accoutrements, then for the people. We live with a family whose members, fortunately for us, have only two names. Well, two and a half. The mother of the house is Celeste. She is a preschool teacher, which gives her the welcomed predilection of speaking very slow, simple Spanish in a comforting voice. Her husband is Vinicio. Vincio is a retired teacher. He is very friendly and would like nothing more than to speak to us in Spanish. He begins slowly, usually with a question about our lessons in class that day and then offers his own brief review of the most important concepts we learned two hours ago. This is usually followed by a speech of sorts on a quasi-related topic. As we listen, nodding to indicate our (feigned) understanding, he finds encouragement and begins speaking faster. Eight or so minutes into the speech, as we are struggling to keep up but still thinking we've got the gist of it, he mentions something about, say, drugs. Then we know we've missed a turn somewhere. But it's too late, there's no going back. Drugs are followed by prostitutes, gangs, or homosexuals. We then continue “listening” and nodding in “agreement” until someone interrupts and we can make our escape. Celeste and Vinicio have two children: Celeste and Vinicio. Celeste attends school at night and attends to household duties during the day. She has a two and a half year old son named Fabien, who also lives with the family. Vincio is studying to be an engineer. He is a really good kid. He studies constantly, helps his mother and sister with the chores, cares for his nephew, talks to us for hours, and then does his homework until he is finished at 2:00am. Last, but not least, there is a dog. He is a terrier of sorts. His name is Barfy. We asked several times before we were convinced that this small, white, cuddly dog was indeed named Barfy. They are all very warm and welcoming with the exception, perhaps, of Fabien, who usually runs and hides when he sees us.

Learning a foreign language engenders in one a special appreciation for small talk. I've never been so eager to talk about the weather. That said, sometimes we try to branch out and be original. For example, Brendan told Vinicio the younger that a farmer told him that Vinicio's cousin has twelve children. I told Vinicio the elder that I have one sister, who is best. In a family restaurant where a rogue six-year old usually runs about in masks fighting dreadful, imaginary things, I looked at the child and said to him, “What shit!” (Thinking, of course, that I was saying, “How scary!”)

In another episode of tactlessness, when asked by Celeste the elder what language Brendan and I prefer to speak with each other, I promptly answered, “We prefer Spanglish.”

And so, in order to avoid further mortification, we continue our studies at ICA. We have class every morning for four hours—just the two of us and our teacher (en espanol). In the afternoon, we eat lunch with our family (en espanol) and then return to the school for an afternoon activity (en espanol). These vary from volunteering for reforestation projects (en espanol) to sampling homemade hot chocolate (en espanol). We have dinner with our family (en espanol) and then converse with Vinicio the younger (en espanol). Finally, before bed, we study Espanol. We're exhausted, but happy.

(R)

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Comments

cementerio mas bueno

Written by ladymtnhiker 41 months ago

Central and South American Cemeteries are great! So colorful. I'm hoping to go to Oaxaca for Dia de los Muertos this year! Jan

Celebrating Brendan and Rhiannon's birthdays

Written by Betty McC 41 months ago

Hi.... wish we could have a combined birthday celebration as we used to do. But we'll be thinking of you tonight when we have a dinner for Rhiannon's 30th birthday! That is amazing to us... and it is also amazing that you will be celebrating 26 in Guatamala. Tell us all about it. I'll see that a birthday check will be deposited in your account.... not exactly a present with pretty wrappings to open. And we can't light your candles. But we know you will have a unique and loving birthday. And keep the blog and pictures coming. I love them. All my love, Grandma

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