Why? Because it's better.

One of the hardest things for me to understand about this culture is why they do things the way they do. I am sure that everyone who has ever lived abroad has asked the same question. I struggled with this for a while because I thought I was being too hard on them and maybe I had a bit too much pride about being an American. I never want to be the American that always thinks that whatever we have in the states is superior to everything else in the world. It's simply not true. I have, however, discovered that for the most part the answer for all of my "why's?" is the same no matter who I ask-" Well, because it's better." I am not exaggerating. They really truly believe, with all that is in them, that their way of living, their food, their health system, their education system, their everything is better. I was talking with my nanny last week about this very thing. When it has been decided that something is "better" that's it. The end.  Nothing is left up to the individual to decide. Take salad dressing. My nanny has eaten only one salad dressing her ENTIRE 26 years. Olive oil and vinegar. There are simply no choices. I have searched. Every now and again I can find a little variety, but nothing to get excited about. It has been decided that oil and vinegar is the only acceptable and healthy choice so that it, end of discussion. 

I know that sometimes people think that we are here trying to make everyone like us- because we think WE are better, but that is really not true. Many of the people here have never experienced anything outside of their own culture- I mean why should they? The best is here - Right? and who am I to disturb their precious apple cart. I think it is important to me that other points of view be considered because otherwise what we are doing is futile. If it is "better" to live a life void of spirituality, living only for yourselves and your immediate family and if they are not open to a new way of thinking then how will they ever be open to hearing the message that we bring. If they won't even consider that MAYBE, just maybe my way of cooking is just as good as theirs will they ever be able to consider the life I am offering. Not a life to be lived just like me or even my way, but God's way. I want it to be understood that we are not trying to make them into versions of "us" only better versions of themselves.

Español Solo (3)

We did it! Last weekend we spent the entire weekend communicating in Spanish. We attended a weekend retreat with the church we have been attending here. We Katie and I did take the liberty to communicate with one another and to the girls in English, but since we were surrounded by so many Spanish speakers, we figured it was okay.

It was a fantastic weekend. We spent each meal with our new friends, and got a chance to eat a bunch of traditional Spanish foods. One of my favorites is morcilla, a type of blood sausage. For our Louisiana friends, it is not all that unlike boudin, except of course for the blood.

Everyone was very gracious, and they exhibited a great deal of patience as we fumbled through sentences and absolutely butchered their language. We attended four teaching sessions throughout the weekend as the pastor who led the retreat took us through the book of Ephesians. We did okay following along, as long as he stuck to the passage. As soon as he would follow a tangent, we would be completely lost. It is amazing how much more one can understand when he/she is aware of the context, in this case the biblical passage. Their were a couple of young teenage girls there who took to our girls. They kept an eye on our girls and let us participate in sessions and talk with people. We greatly appreciated their help in that.

Thanks for all of your prayers for us as we were gearing up for and participating in this weekend. It was a great learning experience, and our we were able to take alot (and not all of it language) away from the weekend).

Español Solo (2)

We had noble intentions, but we came up with some really good excuses not to have our Spanish only weekend. Two weekends ago we decided to postpone and instead invited our Finnish friend from language school to hang out with us for the weekend. It was a great time, but there was not much Spanish practice. Last weekend we had a team going-away party for a couple that is heading back to the US for a year. Once again, lots of English practice, not much Spanish.

So this weekend it is time for our Spanish only weekend. And this time there is no way to postpone it. The members of the church that we have been attending here invited us on a church retreat at a camp about two hours away. So Friday at six we will load up in the car and head out for a true Spanish only weekend, and we won't be returning until Sunday evening. Two of the members of the church speak English fluently, but they, along with everyone else, are only going to communicate with us in Spanish. I am sure that some of our conversations are going to look more like a game of charades than anything else, but we anticipate that this weekend will be a great opportunity to learn.

During the retreat we are going to be studying the book of Ephesians. I look forward to God using our time of study to show us something new in His Word as well. How amazing that it does not matter the language; God's Word transcends all cultural differences. God can do incredible things.

update!

hello everyone,

my mother in law reported to me that she had some friends who she knew were praying for us last weekend and we are so thankful! We did, however, have to put off our weekend for another week:( We have a friend from Finland who lives here- she is 20 and completely alone. So, when she heard we were going to the beach last weekend ( as we always do) she asked to come along and we were so happy to have her with us, but we didn't want to force our weekend crazy on her. I am sad that we didn't get to have our spanish weekend, BUT I had a great time talking with Rebecca and it was an opportunity to sow some seeds so we took it. We are so grateful that people care about us and what we are doing and that they take the time to lift us up. Your prayers for last weekend were not wasted! We are just getting one more week of school in and we will try again. 

Thanks so much for your support!

KB

Espanol solo!

Ian and I are going to have a "Spanish Only" weekend. We are about 8 weeks into our language training and we have a lot of information and a good vocabulary we just need practice...in a safe environment:) So, we have decided that this Saturday and Sunday until after church we will only speak to each other in Spanish. It has the potential to be a very quiet day! Just kidding.... 

We are going to need to use some English with the children but we are going to spring this on them too and see how they handle it when we only respond in Spanish.  I have mixed feelings about this but I think that it will be super helpful in the long run. Keep us in your thoughts over the next few days as we try to beef up our vocab and get mentally prepared. Especially lift us up over the weekend. Our ability to speak and communicate effectively is the biggest thing we need to be able to start really meeting people and building relationships.

Hasta Luego!

Hi everyone,

Nothing big to report-just checking in! Ian and I are still plugging away at Language school. I think we are making good progress, but I am looking forward to being able to actually say something. I am working with our Nanny, Barbara, on speaking and she is a great helper. She wants to practice her English so it is a good trade. We are still going to the beach a few times a week...or 3 or 4 times:) We just love it and the children LOVE playing in the sand. We hear lots of Spanish and are beginning to understand more and more.

The girls are still doing great. Bianca is going to be taking swimming lessons in July and we are joining the club where she will be taking. That will be a good opportunity to meet people and for the children to have others to play with. Today I think we are going to the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art. It should be interesting. I will be sure to post pics on my next extry. 

Thanks for your love an support,

KB

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Earlier this week I was walking home from the grocery with my push cart and starting laughing to myself...this life is SO different from the one I left behind. I just started thinking about all of the ways things are different here. So here are some things I thought about:

1. We grocery shop every few days instead of once or twice a month. My meat and veggies are usually prepared just a day or so from when they were purchased. This is MUCH different than the way I used to do it- buying in bulk from Sams or sales at other stores and having a small grocery store in my deep freeze in the garage.

2. We walk or take public transportation everywhere. I think we go in the car only once or twice a week and generally it is on the weekend when we want to go to the beach. I think we walk an average of 4 miles a day between going to and from school and running errands.

3.  9 pm is the average bed time for children. I have always been a huge fan of the early bedtime. My girls went to bed at 630p until they were a little over 2. Kids here don't get out of school until 5 so that makes a 630 bedtime impossible.  The average dinner time is between 8-9. My girls go to bed early compared to some and they usually turn in between 8-830. 

4.  I bring my kids to bars. Yes,  those kinds of bars! It is completely normal to bring kids of all ages to bars. They are just like the ones you are thinking of, but it is just as normal to order coffee or hot chocolate as it is to order an alcoholic beverage. It is nothing to see a mom and dad enjoying a beer or a glass of wine and the kids having a hot chocolate or a coke.

5. We live in an apartment. Our apartment is about 1300 sq. feet and we live in a building with about 16 units. We take our trash to the community dumpster and share a playground with anyone who walks by and wants to play. There are no back yards therefore, no private play areas. 

There are pros and cons to everything listed. Most days I very much like living here. It would be nice, however, to send my kids out in the backyard and not have to worry about what I look like or if they have on matching socks. BUT, we are adjusting to most things alright and I think we are wired for this more relaxed schedule and for this kind of outdoor living. 

In other news...school is going fine. Some days are good and some are bad. I am going to be having a conversation time with my nanny ,Barbara, once a week so I will get to practice what I am learning and work on not sounding like an American speaking spanish words. Ian is hoping to get a nice bike ride in over the next few days and I am encouraging him to take a surfing refresher class so he can get out there and do that as well. There is a nice size surfing community at the beach we go to each weekend- I say why just sit here an watch when you can get out there and do it!

Well, we love you all and thanks for your support!

Katie