¡Hola mis amigos! ¿Cómo estás? I can't believe that I have been here in
Antigua Guatemala for over una semana (a week) already but then on the
other hand, it feels like I have been here forever! It has been quite
the adventure! I arrived at my host family's home late last Saturday
night so I was pleasantly surprised to see the gorgeous view of the
erupting el volcán fuego (the volcano fire) and the montañas (mountains)
from my porch on Sunday morning. El volcán fuego erupted for several
days in a row. What a beautiful sight! When it became very quiet at
night, I could actually hear the firecracker-like sound of el volcán
fuego erupting from my room.
I started my Spanish studies at Christian Spanish Academy on Monday morning. The school is just a short walk from my host family's house. My studies consist of 5 hours of private tutoring a day with mi maestra (my teacher) Orquidia. This sweet Guatemalan lady is filled with the joy of Jesus and has the patience of a saint! Although most of our study time is spent at our own table studying verbos, vocabulario, y estructura de la oración (verbs, vocabulary, and sentence structure) among the other students and teachers at the school, Orquidia and I have gone out exploring las tiendas (the shops) and el mercado afuera (the outdoor market). I already have 30 hours of Spanish studies under my belt but still have so much to learn!
People here in Latin America are very kind, outgoing, and friendly, especially when you make the mistake that have made since I have arrived here. It is customary for Guatemalan men to hug and then kiss the cheek of a woman whom they know or have just been introduced to as a form of respect. Well, multiple times I was introduced to Guatemalan men who, after hugging me and kissing me on the cheek, promptly asked me if I were single, asked me for my number or how to contact me on Facebook, and repeatedly told me that I am beautiful and how to contact them. I then have to explain to them, in my broken Spanish, that I won't give out my contact information until we know each other better. It wasn't until Friday, while studying introductions with mi maestra that I came to realize that instead of replying to someone's introduction with mucho gusto (which means "nice to meet you"), I was replying with me gusta (which means "I like you" in a romantic way)! No wonder why these guys were so excited! They were thinking that they had a instant girfriend! ¡No bueno! Oh the life of a gringa (white girl).
Prayer Requests:
1) that God will loosen my New England tongue so that I can roll my "r"s which is very important to speak Spanish.
2) that I will find some trustworthy Guatemalan friends who will help me with my Spanish outside of class.
I started my Spanish studies at Christian Spanish Academy on Monday morning. The school is just a short walk from my host family's house. My studies consist of 5 hours of private tutoring a day with mi maestra (my teacher) Orquidia. This sweet Guatemalan lady is filled with the joy of Jesus and has the patience of a saint! Although most of our study time is spent at our own table studying verbos, vocabulario, y estructura de la oración (verbs, vocabulary, and sentence structure) among the other students and teachers at the school, Orquidia and I have gone out exploring las tiendas (the shops) and el mercado afuera (the outdoor market). I already have 30 hours of Spanish studies under my belt but still have so much to learn!
People here in Latin America are very kind, outgoing, and friendly, especially when you make the mistake that have made since I have arrived here. It is customary for Guatemalan men to hug and then kiss the cheek of a woman whom they know or have just been introduced to as a form of respect. Well, multiple times I was introduced to Guatemalan men who, after hugging me and kissing me on the cheek, promptly asked me if I were single, asked me for my number or how to contact me on Facebook, and repeatedly told me that I am beautiful and how to contact them. I then have to explain to them, in my broken Spanish, that I won't give out my contact information until we know each other better. It wasn't until Friday, while studying introductions with mi maestra that I came to realize that instead of replying to someone's introduction with mucho gusto (which means "nice to meet you"), I was replying with me gusta (which means "I like you" in a romantic way)! No wonder why these guys were so excited! They were thinking that they had a instant girfriend! ¡No bueno! Oh the life of a gringa (white girl).
Prayer Requests:
1) that God will loosen my New England tongue so that I can roll my "r"s which is very important to speak Spanish.
2) that I will find some trustworthy Guatemalan friends who will help me with my Spanish outside of class.
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