Integrating

I’m now experiencing my second week in site. This week is Semana Santa, so life in Guatemala has taken a hiatus while observing Holy Week. Despite the fact that the majority of San Sebastián residents are taking a break for the week, which presents some challenge in carrying out everyday-tasks, this week is giving me a good chance to meet people and integrate into the town I will know well during the next two years.

I’ve done my share of blending-in with crowds (blending-in meaning that I’m making attempts to look like a Guatemalan who speaks perfect Spanish and/or Mam, but in actuality, stand out as if I’m dressed for Halloween). I consider my life as a set of mini-experiments, intersecting the lives of others at various instances throughout my days, inevitably walking away, while they think to themselves, “He’s crazy,” and I think to myself, “Am I even a person?”

Experiment #1: Market Day Strut

My first chance to become widely known as the new Gringo in town was to take on the streets during market day. With good intention that I would meet some vendors and pick up my needed produce, I first stopped at a tarp where a woman was selling avocados.

Marcos (me):¡Buenos días! Quisiera cuatro aguacates, por favor.
-Rational thought: I only need four avocados.

Vendor: Lo siento, no tengo cambio para diez Quetzales.
-Rational thought #2: No change? I could leave...

Marcos: “Esta bien. Entonces quisiera cinco Quetzales de aguacates.”
-Irrational Solution: Throw in some more avocados to make up the difference.

My first day at the market ended with me carrying home 10 avocados, a pound of tomatoes, and a pound of onions. I didn’t have the foresight to know what I would actually make with this cornucopia, but when given the opportunity to act like a local with smooth Spanish and a cookbook in the back of your head, seize the day.

Experiment #2: Keep the Conversation Flowing

Even having used four years of high school, three semesters of college and three months of Peace Corps training, as attempts to become proficient in Spanish, I don’t notice a marked improvement until I have long conversations and go hours or days without speaking any English. Usually, responding with, “Sí,” is relatively harmless, whether understanding the actual question or not. Still, observing such factors as the setting, the communicator, and his or her body language are usually good indicators of the person’s intentions and whether or not, “Sí,” will actually prove harmless.

I may have found a way around all of the obscure questions that I don’t exactly understand. And while it’s important to perhaps review the questions and store unknown words in my memory to study at a later time, keeping the conversation going and perhaps entertaining the other person is the best tactic.

Marcos, quire _____?
-Rationalization: I might want to go, it could be fun…or did he ask me to do his laundry? Give you all my money? You’re offering me dinner? What is going on?!

So for those ambiguous questions I throw in words such as: “Por supesto!” (Of course!), “Pan comido!” (Piece of cake!), “Puchica!” (Wow!), or “Saber?” (Who knows?).

Knowing laughs always follow, the interrogator might know that I in fact have no idea what he or she asked, but at least I’ve picked up some locale jargon to give a pithy response. And adding a little signature to each word makes it more memorable: “Pan comido!” and snap, or “Saber?” spoken in a guttural, confused voice.

Experiment #3: Asking and Remembering Names

Even in English, whenever I meet someone new, 75 percent of the time I will not remember his or her name. I usually get caught up in presenting myself. Do I start out with a joke? Is it better to just listen? Nevertheless, lasting impressions are not nearly as lasting if you can’t remember someone’s name the next time you meet.

Initial greeting—calm, cool and collected:
Hola! Me llamo Marcos. Voy a vivir aquí en San Sebastián por dos anos. Como se llama?

Next day:
Buenas…
END SCENE.
-And we meet again…Doña María…or Doña Esperanza…um…Don Mario?!

Goal: record people’s names immediately after meeting them.


I’m only skimming the surface of this tale.