When it comes to the sisters the
head sister started very slow and patiently with me including one day (a month
later) when she asked my site partner to ask me how I want doing and didn’t
believe it when I responded with “bien!” Another day she came into the dining
room and asked if there was queso (cheese) on the table. I quickly responded
with “Si, esta aqui” (yes, It’s here). She was very impressed with my knowledge
of the world queso (a word which I’m pretty sure most Americans even know) and
proceeded to tell the other sisters about it. But all I can do is smile and
appreciate the acknowledgement.
The director of the Hogar when I
first arrived (another sister) has also been tracking my Spanish ability, but a
little more accurately. I still rememeber the first time I was able to tell her
what I did on one of my days off. I had gone to a feria (festival), celebrated
someone’s birthday, and then returned to the Hogar. The surprise on her face
when I said more than that I had a good day was impeccable. She probably told
that story to the sisters at least two or three times at meals that week. After
that she was proud of me and decided to test me and show me off. She did this
by quizzing me at meals by asking me what I had don’t that day/morning. As
simple as that sounds when you only know present tense plus fui (I went) is
quite a test, which only multiplies when you have 10 religious sisters waiting
for your response. But, I always seemed to get something out of my mouth. One
of these days I learned a Spanish distinction. As far as I’ve always been
concerned mañana
tomorrow. You can imagine my confusion then when sister asked what I had done “en
la mañana”
that day. In my mind she was asking what I was going to do tomorrow, which wouldn’t
have been that much different. By the end of the day though I learned that la
mañana is
actually the morning and has nothing to do with tomorrow.
Another funny habit they have here
is to add –ita or –ito to any word they choose. Usually that would mean smaller
version but I think they just like how it sounds. For example, rapidito (fast),
ahorita (now), porfavorcita (please), galletitas (cookies), sillita (chair) and
I’ve even heard esquinita (corner). Other times they use it as a type of
affection or knickname such as mamita, which is what parents sometimes call
their little girls.
I have
also been blessed with the chance to pray in Spanish. I started learning the
prayers of the rosary with a good friend and other volunteer, Maggie while I was at orientation. Not knowing
Spanish I worried that praying in Spanish would be different and not as
meaningful. But, I persisted knowing that is what I would be doing for the next
year. Little by little I have come not only to memorize the prayers, at least
many of them, but now I understand them, and they are not just words but
prayers. It’s different but a way that I can connect with both the girls here,
the sisters, and of course speak with my best friend and Father. A few times
and hopefully soon more frequently I have had the chance to pray with the
sisters in the mornings. It is liturgy of the hours which I have come to love
as a form of daily prayer and I get a chance to do it with other which improves
my feeling of community. Even better is that if they don’t have mass that day
they have a communion service which gives me the chance to start the day with
the Eucharist, the greatest gift of all! Without the love of Christ in my heart
there is no way that I can share that love with the girls that I’m called to
minister to every day.
Maria Auxiliadora de los Cristianos...ruega por nosotros
San Juan Bosco...ruega por nosotros; in honor of his feast day which was this past Thursday... "For you I study, for you I work, for you I live, for you I am ready even to give my life."
In the peace of Christ,
Michelle
