Going to school every day has been a new thing for us on this adventure. The kids started going every morning in Costa Rica and we continued that here in Peru. It was a big adjustment for Creed after spending most of his time hanging out with me. I think he has adjusted well. I know it makes them tired some days, but overall they have done great. It is also a learning experience for us. In Costa Rica we walked down to the school, signed them up and bought uniforms and that was all. The school provided everything, even the daily snack. We had to pay for a few parties and field trips but that was about it.
Peru has been a different story. We had to purchase a ton of stuff before the school started, which was an interesting experience trying to find all the different things. Then we had to wrap the cardboard boxes in wrapping paper and then cover them in clear tape and put all the stuff in it. Then we learned the first day that we had to bring a lunchera (snack, which is really a lunch size thing since they are there until 1pm). Jason ran home and made some for them so they wouldn't starve the first day. Here they have homework every night too. A lot of tearing of paper and gluing it on. We also have to buy random things all the time for their crafts. It is hard to know where to find the stuff. Where is Target when you need it. We end up running all over town trying to find it. Luckily, we get to use our Spanish in this process.
Laney has had a few frustrations with this school. Her teacher is a bit more rigid than in the past experiences and she also has to really do work. She loves crafts and school when it involves lots of dancing and playing. When she is made to do things she does not quite know how to do, it is harder. She is doing well but just not quite as fond of school as before. Luckily, they are working on their mother's day dance so they get some dance time in. She also has one other girl in her class who she really likes playing with. I think she will be ready for kindergarten when we get home. However, I do not know if we are ready for all that comes with kids being in school. It is a whole new world. I hope they give a little more warning of what has to be sent to school. At least I should know where to find it.
Monday, April 30, 2012
El Asilo
I have been wanting to do some volunteer work on this trip, but do to illness it was postponed. My new school director thought working in a home for older people (an asilo) would be a better fit for me than an orphanage. She said the orphanages were all about an hour trek out of town and the asilo was a fifteen minute walk from my house. I have been going for a couple of weeks and is had been a good experience. It is run by the nuns and is mostly for people who have no family here or no family at all. The Asilo is celebrating their 100 year anniversary on Wednesday so they have been doing this for a long time.
I work with the women who are sick and cannot do much for themselves. The nun that runs it is so nice and I think she might be a nurse. I need to ask the next time I am there. There are twenty or so women and not much help. Half are in wheel chairs and a lot suffer from dementia. It is hard for me to tell who does not want to talk, who cannot talk, or comprehend. They are all so sweet. Well actually, not all but being pinched and swatted at I think is just part of the gig. I help feed them and then help put them to bed. A few of them really like to talk to me so I hear the same stories over and over and they ask the same questions. Very good for my spanish. The nun in charge is really friendly and young. There are a couple of nurses that are there off and on. They are nice to me and my slow spanish. One of the volunteers is a young university student who is learning English and I sometimes help her with her homework. It is nice to feel somewhat helpful and I enjoy the interactions. I am glad God brought this into my life.
I work with the women who are sick and cannot do much for themselves. The nun that runs it is so nice and I think she might be a nurse. I need to ask the next time I am there. There are twenty or so women and not much help. Half are in wheel chairs and a lot suffer from dementia. It is hard for me to tell who does not want to talk, who cannot talk, or comprehend. They are all so sweet. Well actually, not all but being pinched and swatted at I think is just part of the gig. I help feed them and then help put them to bed. A few of them really like to talk to me so I hear the same stories over and over and they ask the same questions. Very good for my spanish. The nun in charge is really friendly and young. There are a couple of nurses that are there off and on. They are nice to me and my slow spanish. One of the volunteers is a young university student who is learning English and I sometimes help her with her homework. It is nice to feel somewhat helpful and I enjoy the interactions. I am glad God brought this into my life.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Progress Not Perfection
I received a compliment from my husband the other day that some might think is an insult. He gives me lots of compliments and encouragement in regards to my Spanish, but this one stood out to me. He said that I have now moved up to the level of being able to communicate poorly in Spanish. It made me realize that I am communicating so much more in Spanish. Granted, here in Arequipa if you want to be understood it has to be Spanish. The vast majority do not know English. When I hear English outside of my home I am shocked and assume it is a foreigner, which it usual is. A lot of times in my house it is Spanish too. Got to love those kids. Anyway, back to the point.
I was so frustrated in Costa Rica b/c I was unable to have very many conversations. They all ended with me being totally clueless and wondering what went down. Now I have conversations. Not all go well and I do not by any means understand it all, but end with some understanding on both parts. I usually have to ask someone to repeat themselves and then respond in a somewhat stilted and extremely slow fashion trying to make sure all my conjugations match the right person and use the right masculine and feminine endings. I also get to have a lot of the same conversations over and over with taxi drivers as we take a ton of cabs. They are really friends and curious as to why my little blondies are rambling on and on in Spanish and what in the heck are we doing here in Arequipa. I still come home discouraged and a little dazed b/c I missed stuff or wanted to have a better conversation with the neighbor, but poco a poco. A very grateful for the experience and am glad I am bringing home bilingual kids so we can keep speaking Spanish in the house.
I was so frustrated in Costa Rica b/c I was unable to have very many conversations. They all ended with me being totally clueless and wondering what went down. Now I have conversations. Not all go well and I do not by any means understand it all, but end with some understanding on both parts. I usually have to ask someone to repeat themselves and then respond in a somewhat stilted and extremely slow fashion trying to make sure all my conjugations match the right person and use the right masculine and feminine endings. I also get to have a lot of the same conversations over and over with taxi drivers as we take a ton of cabs. They are really friends and curious as to why my little blondies are rambling on and on in Spanish and what in the heck are we doing here in Arequipa. I still come home discouraged and a little dazed b/c I missed stuff or wanted to have a better conversation with the neighbor, but poco a poco. A very grateful for the experience and am glad I am bringing home bilingual kids so we can keep speaking Spanish in the house.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Spanish Schools
I know you are probably sick of me saying how hard Spanish is...but it is. Not just Spanish, but all, as long as you are an adult. A year ago I had some different thoughts on this and thought it would be a much smoother process. My experience as been very different. I realize that I am not alone the more I talk to others on this journey, including my husband. I think most of the people that told us it was not that hard were those that learned their second language as children or had not actually become bilingual themselves. Anyway, it does not really matter what other people's process has been. What matters to me is my process and my Spanish. Through this process I have learned a lot about myself and my learning style. I think I referred to this when I was in Costa Rica. I need a non pressure situation and a little nurturing. I went through a couple of teachers there and started taking more classes with my favorite teacher Alex. Some of the teachers were nice enough, but they did not teach me stuff. They just talked and talked. Alex was very good at teaching, explaining, listening and giving lots of encouragement. She became a friend through the process.
I was a little worried when we left that I was going to have to start all over and find other teachers. Jason began emailing four different schools and from those emails we picked two to set up appointments with and then go from there once we were in Peru. Once we got here we realized that one of the schools had changed their location and shared it with the other school we were communicating with and they seemed a little upset that we were communicating with both. They told us to go to the sons school (the parents owned the other one) and his wife. We agreed and set up classes. They showed us around a little and we met their four kids. After a couple of sessions with the wife I then had my first one with the husband. I was a little nervous b/c he seemed a little gruff. I made it forty minutes before running out of class crying. This is the first time that has happened and I was trying to keep it together for awhile before I finally could not. The wife came in and finished. He was a little more than gruff. There was a little bit too much demeaning, negativity and yelling. I have tried for forty years to not be so sensitive to no avail. I was not going to change. I tried to tell them that I really was trying and wanted to learn Spanish badly. I had dragged my family across the world for this goal of being able to be bilingual. If I was slow or forgot something it just was how I learned and not to make anyone mad. Jason said we could leave and try another school, but I decided he had something to offer my Spanish. After another six weeks of them taking us on personal errands during Spanish classes, dealing with crying children (theirs, not ours) and the final straw of the husband yelling and demeaning Jason and telling him he would not tell him what a word meant, he could figure it out later, we left. I had salmonella and Shera was here so I had taken the week off so Jason just told them we needed a break....a long break.
Jason emailed another school that was within walking distance to our house and was one of the original four that he was emailing. He took a class to check it out and he liked it. He said he was surprised at how relaxing it was. The owner, Maria, is really sweet and helpful. She is encouraging and positive. I have had her and Pablo as my teachers and really like them. I know we will change teachers while we are there to get different styles and learn to listen to different people speak. I have been speaking so much more and enjoy my conversations with them. Pablo is a psych major at the university so we have had some conversations about relationships and some of the differences between Peru and the US. Maria had the whole family over for some special deserts for Easter. She runs her school out of her home and has two daughters who are 9 and 11. They played with our kids and it was really fun. She has helped me find a volunteer place near my house at a retirement home run by the nuns. She is so sweet and I am enjoying my classes. I still go home exhausted, but I am understanding more and they leave me encouraged.
I was a little worried when we left that I was going to have to start all over and find other teachers. Jason began emailing four different schools and from those emails we picked two to set up appointments with and then go from there once we were in Peru. Once we got here we realized that one of the schools had changed their location and shared it with the other school we were communicating with and they seemed a little upset that we were communicating with both. They told us to go to the sons school (the parents owned the other one) and his wife. We agreed and set up classes. They showed us around a little and we met their four kids. After a couple of sessions with the wife I then had my first one with the husband. I was a little nervous b/c he seemed a little gruff. I made it forty minutes before running out of class crying. This is the first time that has happened and I was trying to keep it together for awhile before I finally could not. The wife came in and finished. He was a little more than gruff. There was a little bit too much demeaning, negativity and yelling. I have tried for forty years to not be so sensitive to no avail. I was not going to change. I tried to tell them that I really was trying and wanted to learn Spanish badly. I had dragged my family across the world for this goal of being able to be bilingual. If I was slow or forgot something it just was how I learned and not to make anyone mad. Jason said we could leave and try another school, but I decided he had something to offer my Spanish. After another six weeks of them taking us on personal errands during Spanish classes, dealing with crying children (theirs, not ours) and the final straw of the husband yelling and demeaning Jason and telling him he would not tell him what a word meant, he could figure it out later, we left. I had salmonella and Shera was here so I had taken the week off so Jason just told them we needed a break....a long break.
Jason emailed another school that was within walking distance to our house and was one of the original four that he was emailing. He took a class to check it out and he liked it. He said he was surprised at how relaxing it was. The owner, Maria, is really sweet and helpful. She is encouraging and positive. I have had her and Pablo as my teachers and really like them. I know we will change teachers while we are there to get different styles and learn to listen to different people speak. I have been speaking so much more and enjoy my conversations with them. Pablo is a psych major at the university so we have had some conversations about relationships and some of the differences between Peru and the US. Maria had the whole family over for some special deserts for Easter. She runs her school out of her home and has two daughters who are 9 and 11. They played with our kids and it was really fun. She has helped me find a volunteer place near my house at a retirement home run by the nuns. She is so sweet and I am enjoying my classes. I still go home exhausted, but I am understanding more and they leave me encouraged.
Laney´s Birthday
I cannot believe Laney is five. Not sure why, but it just seems a little strange to me and I know she is off to kindergarten in August. Still not sure why that is strange since she has been in school since last August everyday for four and a half hours. But I am her mother and does not need to make sense. I am so proud of her and impressed with all that she can do. First of all, I am very impressed with her Spanish and how well she speaks. I am also a little jealous of this too. She is extremely creative and loves to create things. You can see her brain thinking of new ways of doing things and making things. She can cut and glue like no other. She is a good problem solver too. Thank goodness since she does not like a lot of suggestions. She is independent and loves to learn. A trait that had her walking and talking at a young age. That was nice since she was only sixteen months old when Creed was born. By then she could walk zoo and tell me what she needed. I remember when she sat on the floor and would spend time just trying to put her shoes on over and over again until she figured it out. I see her dad in her when she does these things and I think these traits will take her far. It is fun playing games she makes up and watching her create things. She is also pretty competitive. Shocker I know since she is the first born. Creed is learning a little about that now and wants to be in front at times when we are walking somewhere and that frustrates her. I love how she loves her brother. She likes to hold his hand when we walk and gets mad when he does not want to play with her. She is even getting more huggy in her old age and I love that. Laney is good at making friends and plays nicely with them at school and at the park. It seems like she listens to them and does not boss them in the same way she does her brother. I could go on and on. Some of you probably feel like I already did. She is an amazing little girl. I am thrilled that God chose me to be her mother.
Figuring out what to do for her birthday was a bit stressful for me. I know how serious people take birthdays and parties in Latin America. After many discussions with my teacher and then with the teachers at Laney's school I decided to just to a little class party. We are usually pretty chill about our birthdays and my teachers thought we were a bit crazy b/c of that, but my kids are at an age where they love a toy from the dollar store and I want to enjoy how excited they get over little things. I know the time will come when that will change. Anyway, I did not hire a clown for the whole school. I just brought some snacks, a cake and some favors to her class. She only has five others in her class so it was nice and small. Creed was able to join in on the fun. We danced a lot and ate and she got some presents from the other kids. She was thrilled to be the birthday girl. I decided on a Fresita party (Strawberry Shortcake) due to my dislike for barbie and princesses.
Those who know me know I do not want my daughter caught up in all that. She is a wonderful girl but does not need a prince to save her and make her life perfect. Anyway, she loves barbie and princess stuff. I knew it would happen I just hoped it would take longer. Oh well. She did get two barbies from classmates and she loves them. We had a fun birthday especially b/c Shera was there to celebrate it with us. We went out to dinner and she enjoyed all her gifts. She is still writing in the cool giraffe notebook Shera gave her with the fun pens.
Figuring out what to do for her birthday was a bit stressful for me. I know how serious people take birthdays and parties in Latin America. After many discussions with my teacher and then with the teachers at Laney's school I decided to just to a little class party. We are usually pretty chill about our birthdays and my teachers thought we were a bit crazy b/c of that, but my kids are at an age where they love a toy from the dollar store and I want to enjoy how excited they get over little things. I know the time will come when that will change. Anyway, I did not hire a clown for the whole school. I just brought some snacks, a cake and some favors to her class. She only has five others in her class so it was nice and small. Creed was able to join in on the fun. We danced a lot and ate and she got some presents from the other kids. She was thrilled to be the birthday girl. I decided on a Fresita party (Strawberry Shortcake) due to my dislike for barbie and princesses.
Those who know me know I do not want my daughter caught up in all that. She is a wonderful girl but does not need a prince to save her and make her life perfect. Anyway, she loves barbie and princess stuff. I knew it would happen I just hoped it would take longer. Oh well. She did get two barbies from classmates and she loves them. We had a fun birthday especially b/c Shera was there to celebrate it with us. We went out to dinner and she enjoyed all her gifts. She is still writing in the cool giraffe notebook Shera gave her with the fun pens.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Creed's Spanish
Creed has always been such a sweet kid. Now you add his talking in Spanish and it is even more cute. I think he is more comfortable in Spanish than English. I notice it the most when we talk to my parents and he tries to tell them things but cannot seem to do so totally in English. He is learning words in Spanish he does not know yet in English or he learns them later. He has known words I don't know for some time, but now there are a few that Jason does not know. Granted Jason does not go to preschool or usually watch strange kids shows where the animals are playing underwater. The other day Jason asked him what a word was and his reply to him was "Te olvidaste Papito". Meaning you forgot daddy. We could not stop laughing. He has said that to me too. He calls me Mamita now and it has got to be the cutest thing in the world. When he plays he is always rambling on and on in Spanish, either with Delaney or with himself. When he plays by himself he sings in Spanish words. When he is mad or gets in trouble he talks/yells in Spanish. He is always in his timeouts yelling "abrazo"...hug. He is my little hugger and kisser and always has been but now it is in Spanish. It just melts my heart to hear him say "te amo" over and over.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Estoy Cansada
I am tired. Luckily now it is because I am taking classes and my brain is fried and not because I feel horrible. I am so glad the salmonella is gone. I think I am a bit tired still from it and the lack of walking I did for weeks because of it. Now I am back to walking up and down all these hills. I have so many things to say but not enough energy. I need to tell you about our new school and all the drama that happened and the kids school and all that goes into that. I promise to try and do that later in the week once I have a small break from my classes. The good news is all is going well and I really like my classes. They just fry my brain. I have a hard time doing anything after them, even speaking English. I am understanding a lot more so it is worth the pain.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Salmonella and Shera
First lets start with funner things like Shera coming. Two weeks ago Shera came to hang out for nine days. She was kind of tired when she got here since it took over 24 hours and a night in the airport in Lima. I do not look forward to taking my kids on that flight home. Anyway, it was so nice to catch up and chat in person. It was nice to be understood and known. Jason has worked hard to be a good girlfriend over these months and he has done a good job at it, but there is nothing like the real deal. Plus, it was fun showing her around Arequipa. The kids were so cute with her. They could not stop telling her about all the new things they had since we left in August and Creed followed her everywhere showing her all his fun tricks. It was so sweet to see how they really remembered all the time and energy she has poured into their lives since they were born.
Shera and I took off for the beach by ourselves leaving Jason to hold down the fort at home. It was a somewhat pleasant 3 hour bus ride over very windy roads. It costs us about $4. We went to this tiny town that was mostly boarded up because it is a summer holiday place and everyone went back to school in March. The land is very barren and the water is freezing. It was fun just walking up and down the beach. There were tons of birds. I think because there are a lot of fish out there. It was very relaxing hanging out with no kids and hearing the waves.
Unfortunately on Sunday, I came down with something and felt horrible the whole day. I just slept on and off. It was a little better on Monday and we were able to get home. The ride on the windy roads was not the best. By Thursday I felt even worse so Jason took me to the ER. They got me in right away. The doctor wrote a script for everything that was needed; IV, meds, needles, etc. Jason went and across the parking lot to the pharmacy to pay for it and pick it up. He brought it back and the nurse put the IV in me. It was pretty inexpensive and did not take too long. I am glad Jason was there to get it for me. Not sure what I would have done without him. The doctor spoke English so that was nice and the nurse got the IV on her first try (a first for me). The pain meds really helped and they sent me on my way a few hours later.
I feel bad I was so sick while Shera was here. I wish we could have done more things, instead of watch TV. We did go see a movie. It has been a long time since I have done that. It was in English with Spanish subtitles so we could really enjoy it.
Today is the first day I feel almost normal. I am hoping they continue. The nausea and headaches were killing me. It has been 12 days since the fateful chicken lunch that went bad on me. Peru and my digestive system have not been a great match. Thank goodness the kids seem to be doing fine with whatever they are eating. Glad it is me and not them. Granted, my Spanish is getting even farther behind.
Shera and I took off for the beach by ourselves leaving Jason to hold down the fort at home. It was a somewhat pleasant 3 hour bus ride over very windy roads. It costs us about $4. We went to this tiny town that was mostly boarded up because it is a summer holiday place and everyone went back to school in March. The land is very barren and the water is freezing. It was fun just walking up and down the beach. There were tons of birds. I think because there are a lot of fish out there. It was very relaxing hanging out with no kids and hearing the waves.
Unfortunately on Sunday, I came down with something and felt horrible the whole day. I just slept on and off. It was a little better on Monday and we were able to get home. The ride on the windy roads was not the best. By Thursday I felt even worse so Jason took me to the ER. They got me in right away. The doctor wrote a script for everything that was needed; IV, meds, needles, etc. Jason went and across the parking lot to the pharmacy to pay for it and pick it up. He brought it back and the nurse put the IV in me. It was pretty inexpensive and did not take too long. I am glad Jason was there to get it for me. Not sure what I would have done without him. The doctor spoke English so that was nice and the nurse got the IV on her first try (a first for me). The pain meds really helped and they sent me on my way a few hours later.
I feel bad I was so sick while Shera was here. I wish we could have done more things, instead of watch TV. We did go see a movie. It has been a long time since I have done that. It was in English with Spanish subtitles so we could really enjoy it.
Today is the first day I feel almost normal. I am hoping they continue. The nausea and headaches were killing me. It has been 12 days since the fateful chicken lunch that went bad on me. Peru and my digestive system have not been a great match. Thank goodness the kids seem to be doing fine with whatever they are eating. Glad it is me and not them. Granted, my Spanish is getting even farther behind.
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