The First Week of Class

The first 2 days at the Institute (pic) were orientation, getting acquainted and learning about health & safety issues in Cochabamba. The other students are a wonderful mix of ages, backgrounds, nationalities. Married couples, one with 3 pre-school children. Catholic priests & sisters, several new Maryknoll Lay Missionaries.( 3 yr commitment), many college students. We are from all over the US and Swisserland, the Bahamas, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, Korea. Mostly Catholics but several Reformed congregations represented as well and many of the students have no religious affiliation at all but are welcome and made to feel at home.(pic)

On Wed. my first actual day of language class I was pared up with a Korean MaryKnoll sister who speaks no English. (pic) We have 4 native Bolivian teachers who team teach us for 1 hour each with tea (mate de coca) breaks between each class. They only speak Bollivian.

I could hardly understand a thing, (pic) Couldn’t understand the homework assignments, would have a brain freeze when asked to repeat the simplest phrases. My old pattern of being overwhelmed & feeling helpless & hopeless kicked in and I had an emotional meltdown in class. Poor Oscar (pic) didn’t know what to do. I excused myself from class and took a walk around the beautiful campus until I calmed down.

When I returned to my home I told my host family what happened in class and they were all so empathetic & supportive. Marcus (25 yrs.) played some of his favorite music on his iphone ( he’s crazy about it) for me (Bob Marklay & Pink Floyd) After a good night’s sleep I felt ready for another go at it.
My first class of the day went better but after the break for tea I was hit with a bout of Montezuma’s revenge. It was awful, I’ll spare you the details. The secretary called my house mother then called a taxi. When I arrived home Mary was waiting at the door for me and sent Marcus to the pharmacy for the recommended medications.
After siesta I felt chilled then hot then I began vomiting and couldn’t even hold water down. The family insisted on driving me to a local clinic and off we all went with Marcus as interpreter. The pretty young woman MD (who would later ask him for his phone #) gave me a shot for the nausea and a script of meds. to be filled. That all cost me a total of 42 American dollars.
I stayed home the next day and rested. Mary and I watched EWTN broadcast, from the U.S. of the Rosary. The familiar prayers were soothing.
Saturday fortunately I felt well enough to join the class tour of Cochabamba, the old central plaza were the 18th centuray cathedral is located and the newer shopping areas with restaurants etc. and a ride up to El Christo which over looks the city and we finished up with dinner at a lovely resort just outside the city. (pics) In spite of still feeling a little wiped out it was a delightful day.

On Sunday, my new best friend & study partner Veronica (pic) came to visit me. Since I was still feeling queasy, she (who is a world traveler) reminded me to only eat small portions until my body gets acclimated. I had forgotten that important bit of advice and was thoroughly indulging myself with Mary’s delicious meals.

Later on my son Chris & his wife Carrie Skyped me and it felt so good to have that connection. Mary has begun helping me with my homework, pronunciations etc. She seems to thoroughly enjoy this. I think she is a natural born teacher. For the first time I began to feel confident that I will be able to learn enough Spanish to be proficient. With all this support & encouragement how can I possibly fail?

Monday on the morning radio program I heard the name Martin Luther King and remembered who’s day it was. I’m ready to begin another week of classes.