75 Words in Guatemala

La maña | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

In 2015 my friend had a baby. Many of my friends have made a hobby out of birthing babies. It’s like my version of crafting. She told me that her mother-in-law, who is from Central[…]

Extravío | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

September 5, 2017September 5, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

Shortcut. I’d never heard the word. I think I looked it up one other time, but like imperfecto de subjunctivo, it didn’t stick. And the term I found wasn’t extravío, it was something else. In[…]

Terremoto | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

September 4, 2017September 4, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

In Guatemala, temblores/tremors are a part of life. Terremotos son otras cosas, they are earthquakes. Terremotos jumble the earth. My host family asked: “Do you have them in your home?” and la verdad es no,[…]

“Vaya” le dije yo | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

August 6, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

It’s hard to isolate single words and explain them, mejor usar frases o cuentas completas, because in this culture when I refer to something I learned I remember it in story form. Responses, answers and[…]

Mantequilla! | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

April 30, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

I’ve become an avid avocado buyer and eater. Aguacates are not in season anymore, sadly, but from November to January, you see avocados the side of small footballs. If you ask me what my favorite[…]

Jalón | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

March 19, 2017March 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

I wore a black dress that ends a bit above my knees. It’s a dress by Athleta with thumb holes in the sleeves and a hoodie-style middle pocket. It fits me like most dresses don’t:[…]

Nudo Humano | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

March 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

I gave my first charla to the jóvenes on Monday February 27, 2017. I think I’ve done 15 or so by now because you give the same one 6 times each but I’d have to[…]

Fomentar | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

December 17, 2016: K’oliw! (kuh-olee-ew) is K’iche’ for “Is anybody here?” I say this as I walk into the kitchen. I took my second Mayan language class (Cuerpo de Paz pays for 20 hours) and[…]

Pulgas | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

November 20, 2016November 20, 2016 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

Pulgas are fleas. End of week 2 and fleas were in my bed, on my skin, in my life. It’s week 7 of training and they are… still in bed, on skin, in life. I[…]

Un Ratito | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

November 15, 2016November 15, 2016 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

My first day in the Ciudad, Guaté, I was picked up by a private driver to go to a medical appointment. After the appointment (about an hour long), I speed-walked to a local restaurant to[…]