Saturday, August 13, 2011

Building Relationships and Routines.


Building Relationships.

While we were in Prado with a family from the school, the two students indicated the desire to learn to swing dance.  We mentioned that we had learned to swing dance during our college years and would be open to teach them some of the basics steps.  We set up a time for them to invite their friends over to our place to learn the basic steps.  Six students came, some were graduates of ECA, and the others were current students at ECA. We spent two and a half hours with them, teaching the basic steps with some turns.  In between the dance instruction, we also sat and talked as we ate popcorn and drank Kool-Aid (which we had brought with us from the states- a treat for the students!). It was fun evening getting to know some of the students outside the school setting. They enjoyed their time as well and asked to come back and continue to practice. We said, “Sure!” We are looking for every opportunity in which we can build natural relationships with the youth in hopes to encourage and foster spiritual growth with our heavenly Father.


Getting into a routine
The school year has started for El Camino, and we are trying to get into a routine: Steve wakes up at 5:30am, out the door at 6:12 to catch the school van at 6:25am (also true for Marlayna and Elleazah if they need to be at the school early in the morning).  Steve arrives at school at about 6:40 and begins his days… he will share more about his days in a future post. Meanwhile, Elleazah and Marlayna begin their day at home, which is a bit different every day. But two days a week, they need to shop for produce at the local market where there is a different store front for the different types of product.  On one particular day, Marlayna was planning on making tacos for dinner. So, it is off to the market for ingredients, plus a few additional items. Marlayna and Elleazah have their shopping routine. First they stop and buy fruits and vegetables.  We also like to try a new fruit with each shopping day. The workers are starting to recognize Marlayna and Elleazah, after all how many “gringos” (Americans) come with a baby strapped in a Bjorn carrier to shop?  The workers love to see Elleazah and give her special attention as they coo at her. Communication can be difficult due to the language barrier, but Marlayna tries her best at Spanish to hopefully build a relationship with the employees. After the fruits and veggies, they head to the panadaria for some fresh bread rolls that are often eaten for breakfast (something to quickly grab and go) as well as for dinner. Next is meat from the butcher, and then to bargain a price for some avocados from a guy selling them from a cart on the street (always interesting with such little Spanish knowledge).  With the shopping routine complete, the tortillas were missing for the meal that night.  Not knowing where to purchase the tortillas, Marlayna and Elleazah started to window shop. When a store looked like it could have tortillas, they would poke their head in, look around for a moment, and with as much confidence that could be mustered, Marlayna would ask in her broken Spanish, while using hand movements as if playing a game of charades, to ask if they had tortillas.   Responses ranged from a confused look to one lady pulling out lady’s razor for shaving, thinking that was what was needed. Ohhhh… eventually Marlayna spotted a bag of tortillas hanging in a store. Later Marlayna learned the correct pronunciation for “tortillas.” First problem was that the first “T” sound was not hard and clear, plus the “ll” makes more of a “j” sound here in Colombia, not a “ya” sound that we have learned.  Lost in pronunciation. It was our first good giggle (being offered the razors), and I’m sure it will not be our last laugh as we learn and grow in this new culture.

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