Buenas a todo from the new group of volunteers. Yes, we have in fact been here for almost two months now. What slackers we all are for not having blogged sooner (sorry Jackie)! I don´t really know what to write here, as others, Meredith and Jenny mostly, are probably a lot better at blogging than I. At any rate, I think we are doing well here, "well" being a relative term for trying to take in the crazyness and chaos of confusing Duran.
I am reticent to speak for the whole group here, but to me, it has become obvious that I have little clue what I am doing. My spanish has not yet reached the point of complete sentences with correct verb tenses, although sometimes I begin to feel I am getting my point across and, more importantly, able to listen. The only thing that is clear to me is that we need a lot of help, which the neighbors have abundantly offered to provide. Katie and I were sitting at Pastora´s house the other day, and she was feeding us, like always, and when we tried to say thanks in our shoddy Spanish her husband waves away our remarks, saying something like "its our duty to feed the hungry and invite in strangers". Clearly, he meant us. We are current objects of charity here and not the other way around, having problems with simple things like feeding ourselves. We have a lot to learn, even if just by way of trying to recriprocate the hospitality we have so far recieved.
Some news from Arbolito: apparently the mayor Marianita is paving the main streets in Arbolito, which, Pat tells me, is soooo good. Drain pipes and everything. The boys, Mike and Adam, are putting in long hours on a project of Padre Damien, assisting a group of doctors on bone surgery for kids. Adam has found his natural habitat and is excited that he gets to scrub in sometimes in the surgeries. I think he likes it when people mistakenly call him doctor. Katie and I are trying to go to this Reggaeton dance class in Duran centro on Saturdays with Juanita, a friend from the Guaderia. Before I came here, I thought I was a graceful dancer, but then I found out how far some people can actually extend their hips. Merdedith is like a rolling fire of energy all day long, and I give her credit for trying to reinvigorate the lectura program in the mornings. Sam, I think, is grooving at Santiago- he is the best of all of us at focusing on Spanish.
So I think we are all adjusting, but I don't want to give the impression that it isn´t incredibly hard in a way that I´ve never felt before. And I have to say, we are definently struggling, each in our own way. I hope that this year we will learn how to struggle with the people here, together and not alone. Thanks for all the prayers and support from everyone, and hopefully postings will be a more frequent event in the future. -Johanna
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