Al fin de semana

Today, Friday, I had a short lesson from one of the teachers. She had not, as of Thursday, finished up a section on pronouns - those la, las, los, lo, les, se, te and me words you see in Spanish. She was kind enough to come in today on her off day and finish the lesson. The whole staff at Interaction has been amazing in their professionalism, desire for you to learn and going the extra mile to ensure you understand. They are really quite demanding of students, in a nice way and you do really learn.

This experience has been wonderful in many respects; learning a new language suffciently well enough to communicate in present and past tense, but also to see and be part of another culture for a short time. It is humbling to watch TV and not understand but a few words of what they are saying, trying to derive meaning from other clues in pictures, gestures, etc., and realizing a history and time lie behind the language, pictures and conversations that you do not know and most likely will not know. What one gets passing insights. Kind of like hearing part of a really good song but not knowing its name or what the rest of the song sounds like. A tease.

Watching the work of staff and volunteers at the orphanage was a lasting impression of their doing God's work with these "little ones". Like previous trips to Mexicio with teens from California, I came away with the sense of God's church working in many different ways, in different countries, in many languages and with many different people. The volunteers at the orphanage were from Spain, the US and from other parts of Mexico. All Christian and willing to serve in some capacity.

The staff at Interaction are all Christian and in talking with them they are all living the Gospel, providing a powerful witness in a humble way and growing the church in their walk. God is worshiped in many countries and His work is being done by the faithful to His Glory.

What lies ahead for me in my faith walk is to be determined but will likely involve something Spanish. This experience is a step in that direction. As the man on the insurance company ad asks -- Are you in good hands? My response is the best!

Al fin de semana means weekend or literally, the end of the week. This weekend will find me returning home to Texas. My flight leaves at 7:30 am Saturday morning. A couple of the young ladies from Interaction will be getting up early to drive me to the airport.

I should be in College Station mid Saturday afternoon with Bobby picking me up.

More later.

Doug

Guillermo or you can call me Ray

Time goes by fast when you are consumed. On Saturday, we went out to the orphanage again and I did a short English lesson on numbers 1-10. We did some games and coloring and the kids seemed to have learned a few new words. They are precious and are in a good environment given their circumstances. I have great admiration for the director and his wife who over see the facility.

On Sunday, the language school director had us to her house in the north part of town. It is a beautiful place on a hill. We celebrated the 4th of July with hamburgers and hotdogs, potato salad,..... and we were given permission to speak English. Yahoo! All of the students came, some teachers and a few of Rebecca's (small group Bible Study) were there as well. A good time.

I have two more days of school, an off day and then my flight back to Houston on Saturday.

As to the Title of this entry; there is no Spanish sound for the oug in Doug. My teachers say Doc, Dog, or some variant. A sound of someone choking or sneezing and coughing at the same time. One of Rebecca's friends asked who was coming to the orphanage. She mentioned, by name, several of us students. When she mentioned my name - Doug, the person heard dog and asked why Rebecca was bringing a perro, dog to the orphanage.

So I thought it might be nice to change my name this last week to something they all could pronounce. Guillermo (William in English) rolls off the tongue a lot easier than Dochg or Dugt.

My best to you all.

Guillermo

The goats are dancing.

Two weeks down and one to go. I have been learning much and practicing a little. In the time I have been here we have covered the present tense and the past tense. In Spanish, there are two forms of past tense, each with different verb endings. One is for past actions that are completed (I flew from Texas last week.) The other is for actions that happened in the past but had an indeterminate ending (I lived in California for awhile). The second form is used when telling a story or narrative. The first is formal, the second is informal.

By this time next week, I should have covered two more verb forms - Future and Conditional, if my head doesn't pop first.

The staff know that I am here for a short time and are trying to cover as much as possible.This includes homework at night and on the weekends. It has been a little daunting. (Most students stay for 4-8 weeks.)

I can read and write what I have learned much better than speaking. I need lots of wait time to respond. These 60 year old brain cell neurons are firing as fast as possible, let me tell you.

Yesterday, Laura, my afternoon teacher, had me doing a drill of reading a paragraph in the present tense and then reread it in the past tense, changing all verbs to the correct endings,with accents, etc, with no looking at notes. Aii Carumba. I got through it relatively well but it wasn't pretty at times.

Earlier in the week, I was doing a similar exercise and I had a particularly difficult sentence (for me) to read. The instructor started smiling. I asked her what I had said because I knew it was mangled. She said what I said could be translated as "The goats are dancing". We all had a good laugh on that one.

Yesterday, we had a new person come to the school. Julia comes from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena and will be doing some volunteer work at Casa Adonai orphanage. We had an opportunity to talk about our respective experiences at Fuller.

Saturday, several of us will be going to the orphanage as well. I will be doing some classes on speaking English with the kids. We are going to learn numbers and number words for Numbers 1-10. Last week's lesson went well and hopefully tomorrow's will also.

Today, is an off day, so I will be walking to some stores to pick up few things and watch some World Cup matches with my host family.

El tiempo aqui estuve muy bueno y simpatico. Pero el trabajo aprender una nueva lingua esta muy dificil y fuerte algunas veces. Sabo tendre muchas ocassiones usar Espanol en mi clases y con el padres de mis estudiantes. Alegrarme vene. Gracias a Dios. Hasta Luego.

Translation

The time here has been very good and congenial. But the work to learn a new language is difficult and hard sometimes. I know I will have many occasions to use Spanish in my classes and with the parents of my students. I am glad I came. Thanks be to God. Bye for now.

Doug.

A really fast time

I have completed a week of language school and it seems like I have been here 5 minutes, and at the same time 5 years. The teachers are very focussed in getting their lessons done and the information imparted to the students. It has been intense. The school rule of all Spanish all the time does make one focus and listen carefully. I am faster reading it and writing it, than speaking it. In a conversation I have to think of verb endings, word combinations commonly used, pronouns and possessive adjectives before I reply.

When I go the store or ask questions, I do not always recognize the words that the other person says back to me. I answer on what I think they said and smile. I am sure I have a "deer in the headlights" look.

Yesterday, the language school director Rebecca, a friend of hers, Perla, and I went to the Casa Adonai Orphanage north of Chihuahua. It is out in the country a bit. The orphanage it self is a about 3 years old and has about 50-60 kids ages 5 -15. The main building is completed, a second building is half done. Mexico has no foster parent program, so the orphanages perform that role, according to the orphanage director, Luis. The kids are there because their parents cannot afford them, the parents are overcoming personal/physical problems (emotional/drug addiction), or the kids have not parents at all. They can stay there from two weeks to several years.

When we walked into the main building, the kids were just finishing breakfast. Several of them came up and hugged us and said hello. It was very touching. They have a boy's and girl's dormitory made up of bunkbeds and individual lockers. The place looked spic and span.

I had offered to teach some classes and we arranged to have three groups. For the young ones we did an activity of learning colors / color words in English and Spanish and then doing a coloring exercise. I had brought down crayons and coloring books. The kids did great and when they finished each got a glitter pencil. I am amazed at the time the kids (my kids in the States do this too) take to get just the right color pencil, pen or whatever.

We also played games with color. We had two teams; Team Mexico and Team Espana. They vied for small prizes by answering questions on colors and color names.

For the older kids I did some English lessons on common things in a class room - desk, chair, board, window, pen, pencil, etc. The instruction was followed by some balloon races, competitions. It was a lot of fun. I tried to use as much Spanish as I knew to teach/explain the English words. Rebeca said I did fine in my Spanish and what I messed up the kids still understood. I must say the kids are so cute and very keen on learning. They were also very polite and respectful. All this to say that the orphanage is doing a great job in loving these kids and ensuring a nurturing environment in how they are treated, raised and guided. God does His work in so many different ways through so many different people. The lives of these little ones are a testament to the work the Pastor Luis is doing.

I agreed to go again next Saturday and do some more lessons. Two of the young women college students from the language school want to go next time with us, so that will be good.

Linda has posted the pictures I have taken thus far on her FACEBOOK. So have a look.

The World Cup competitions are very big here. Mexico and Argentina play today at 12:30 pm. I will watch the game with my host famiy.

Until next time. Adios

Doug

First days of school

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Teacher becomes student.

Monday was the first day of class. The School Director, Rebecca, picked me up at my guest house and drove to school, showing me the fastest way to get there on foot. The walk is about 15 minutes and it is good to some exercise each day going to and from classes. School starts promptly at 9:00 am and goes for two hours straight, we break at 11:00 for Spanish conversation in the break room, then back to class for another hour. We break for lunch / siesta at 1:00 (at which time I walk back to the house) and return at 4:00 for two and half hours of continued instruction. Monday I got out about 6:45 pm. Oh, and did I mention speaking English is not allowed as a general rule in the school. The other students in the school at this time are some young women from the Dallas area who are about 18 -21 years of age and were interested in Bobby. They have been there for about 3 – 4 weeks.

The school is a very nice facility. I will take some pictures so you can see for yourself. I have also been impressed with the teachers; all very proficient, approachable and taskmasters. As I mentioned to Linda, this is a Spanish boot camp. First impressions are this Christian language school is very well run.
Last night I brushed up on parts of speech and the various tenses and mood – Present Indicative, Present Progressive, Past, Conditional, Future and Imperative and subjunctive. I am not learning all of those at the same time. But the instructors do use the terms, so I have to be able to know what the differences are in English, when referred to in Spanish. Right now we are working on the Present Indicative and Progressive (I go and I am going) and the verb “to be”. The blessing of Spanish is that most verbs and articles follow standard rules. The flip side is that they tend to use more cases, moods and tenses then English does.

The humbling part for me in this experience is thinking through the Spanish and forming the sentences being mindful of person, tense and verb conjugation rules. The old grey cells ain’t what they used to be. The instructors tell me to do what I tell my kids to do—practice, practice, practice.

Being a student, learning a language has, even with this short exposure, given me some keen insights as to what my ESL students must be experiencing in my class. Certainly the value of daily objectives, a slower pace of spoken language and “think time” are all necessary for someone learning a new language.
And while I did provide these things in the classroom this past school year, I know I can do better in these areas next school year.

One of my teachers, Sophia, also teaches English at some of the US run factories down here in Chihuahua. There are some 2700 of these factories called maquiladoras, along the US/Mexican border states. They account for some 71% all such factories in Mexico and are a substantial part of Mexico’s export. (Sourcehttp://www.migrationinformation.org/feature/display.cfm?ID=407). The companies here in Chihuahua are Cessna, Bell Helicopter and Wrangler clothing company. There may be others but I haven’t heard of those yet. Cessna and Bell Helicopter are making parts, Wrangler clothing. An interesting fact in local news is that Mexico is losing some of these factories to countries who offer lower wages to workers. The American corporation sees the bottom line as the most important factor.

Last Sunday, I took a walk around the neighborhood found a big mall, Los Gallerias, about a 10 minute walk from here. It is right next to a grocery store that rivals Kroger or Alberston’s in appearance, layout and goods offered. The mall looked the equal of a small Sunrise mall with an upscale furniture store and department store in addition to a very large food court offering – Cinnabon, DQ, BK, Frozen yogurt, ….you get the idea.

The place was packed. I think, given the predominance of low income housing and lack of A/C, it is a place to hang with friends on a hot Sunday afternoon. Yes, there is a contrast between the haves and have not’s and a certain neighborhood milieu of being dog eared and worn, still serviceable, but needing some TLC. I will include some pictures next time.

A big election is coming up on July 4 for all of the Mexican states. It is the party of the current president Corazon (PRI) and several other national parties. Their election signs are unique with each candidate having had a really good photo taken wearing business casual and then posting their pictures along the roadways. The theme appears to be “unity”. I will include some pictures in my next post.

Reuben out did himself with breakfast Monday morning = eggs on tortillas, a mango, toast, some pastries, milk, jalapeno peppers and, oh yeah, beans. All washed down with milk. I wasn’t sure if the jalapenos and milk would mix but there were no after effects. Lunch was different foods but same variety and quantities. When he cooks he wears this bandana around his head. Sort of looks like a Mexican samari.

I am really happy to be here and consider this time to be special. I especially appreciate my beautiful wife’s understanding about my need to be here. I am looking forward to my time at the orphanage this Friday.

Till next time.

Doug

Chihuahua Nights

Post 1
June 20, 2010
Yesterday, I arrived in Chihuahua, Mexico. The flight from Houston was a fine with a little turbulence as we skirted thunderstorms. The country over which we flew was rugged, vast and open. It is I think part of the northern Sonoran desert. You could see deep arroyos, tall mesas and the spines of mountains going north -south, with the various dirt roads looking like spider webs laid over the landscape.
Chihuahua is at 4500’ and lies in a shallow valley surrounded by mountains. The airport is new and facilities very nice. After clearing customs I was met by Rebecca Wynia, the director of the language school. Rebecca is a Minnesota native about 28 / 30, blond hair and blue eyes. As she told me before I came down, “You won’t have any problems identifying me in the crowd.” … and I didn’t. Our drive from the airport to my host family’s house took us across town.
My previous experience with Mexico has been in the border towns – Tijuana, Mexicali – So this was different experience. Unlike the border towns, Chihuahua is very clean, with working traffic signals and good roads, shopping centers, parks, ubiquitous strip malls and American fast food places – Hello Mickey D’s and BK. Rebecca said that Starbuck’s recently opened not far from the school and she is looking forward to some “real” coffee.
My host family is Minerva and Rueben. They are delightful and know absolutely no English, so my Spanish language lessons began last night. My little pocket dictionary is my new best friend. That, and my hands, as I gesture and make motions for the lack of words. It is more like a bad game of Simon Says.
I have my own room upstairs in their small house and my own bathroom. This morning Reuben cooked breakfast for me – Whew!! Eggs, ham, sausage, beans, tomato, bread and coffee cake. I need to find the Spanish to say – Too much. After he finished cooking and set the table, he went running and I started eating. Maybe Rueben and I should run together or I will have to buy two seats for the plane ride home.
School starts tomorrow. Class hours are 9:00 to 12:30/4:30 to 6:30. That four hour break is for lunch and a siesta. I am liking this. As I have grown older, naps are becoming a pleasurable treat. Rebecca informed me that I will be in a class of two for two days and one on one with an instructor for two days, so I should pick up much Spanish. On Fridays I will be teaching English at an orphanage.
This morning dawned clear and bright, as it rained last night and light breezes have swept away the clouds. It’s a good day to go exploring with my dictionary in hand.

June 14, 2010

If you follow the news, you know that there is much violence along the Mexican/American border due in large part to turf battles among the Mexican drug cartels. Last week in Chihuahua, 19 persons were shot and killed in a drug rehabilitation clinic. Upon reading that I sent an email to Rebecca Wynia, who is the director of the Interaction language school.

Here is her reply:

Hi Doug,

Yes, last week brought about a very unfortunate turn of events here at the drug rehabilitation center Fe y Vida, of whom the director and pastor Rene Castillo is a good friend to many here in ministry. Ministry leaders and churches throughout the city have rallied up in prayer and the body of Christ is yet again coming together to support Rene, his family and the ministry he has. Many of us know him personally and the mood is mainly one of sadness. Ironically enough, the day after this happened was a day designated by all of the churches here in the city as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Chihuahua. However, this hasn’t really brought up any different safety concerns for us. The violence was directed at men in an opposing drug cartel who were in the rehabilitation process at Rene’s center, the violence is still very targeted and those of us who are not involved are really of no interest to the cartels.

We are all still doing very well here at Interaction and at the orphanages! On Saturday morning I actually made the trip to the border to pick up a mission team and bring them back to Chihuahua, they will be here all this week working on construction projects at the orphanage Adonai (where you will be giving classes) and a church here in the city. We crossed through Juarez and had zero problems. God is good and faithful!

Thank you for your email and concern, please let me know if you have any more questions! I saw your other email as well and will respond to your questions regarding classes.

Rebecca
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Given that response and still feeling this a trip that God wants me to make, I will be leaving on Saturday, the 19th for Chihuahua.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I will be teaching some English as a Second Language at a nearby orphanage -- Casa Hogar Adonai. Many church groups have come down from the states to help in its construction.

Here is a YouTube video of the intial construction. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odn9Qe5gH_0

It is now finished and looks well done according to the Facebook photos

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-Adonai-Chihuahua-Mexico/186872621635#!

These past few day I have been preparing some lessons for the days that I will be there.

Best wishes to all.

dr