Background on my trip: PART 1

Hello again,

I wanted to offer some context to what I’m doing on this trip and why I’ll be in both Guatemala and El Salvador.

First, I am currently a PhD candidate who is A.B.D. (All But Dissertated- meaning I’ve completed all –almost- graduation requirements).  There are two things left for me to do to complete my doctorate. First I need to demonstrate my knowledge of a second language related to my area of study (Spanish) and second I need to write my dissertation (Side note: I’m working on it and don’t you dare ask when it will be completed as that is the single most hated question by any writing a PhD! ;) ! ) .

So, I will be spending two and a half weeks in Antigua, Guatemala in an intensive Spanish immersion program. This will allow me to compliment my informal “field” Spanish with a more educated, formal Spanish that is more appropriate for conversing with government officials, giving lectures, and doing press interviews. As I have stated earlier, I have learned the majority of the Spanish I know while doing fieldwork in Belize, Honduras, Mexico, and mostly in El Salvador. I have participated in field projects at the Cerén site since 2005 and have learned the majority of my Spanish in the town of Joya de Cerén. There are some great local expression and words that are a regular part of repertoire. Fortunately, my dear friends and the guys who have worked in the field with us in Joya (the name we often use to refer to the modern community) have been amazing patient with my Spanish and have done their best to educate me a little more each trip. We have had some wonderful laugh over the terms I’ve mixed up. For example, I once asked our field cook to please pick up some “Church Sauce” at the store. I’d meant to say “English Sauce” (a term for Worcestershire sauce). Of course I went purple with embarrassment but this has turned into a great joke that we laugh about each time I visit.  Learning a second language is not for the faint of heart, as one might very easily confuse words that can lead to serious embarrassment! I am always afraid to say “I’m afraid” (ironic I know) in Spanish, since the work for this is somewhat close to a swear word for fecal matter and I am paranoid I will mix the two up! While it is scary to open yourself up to make these mistakes, it is only through diving-in and being willing to sound totally silly that I have had any success in learning a new language. I’ll keep you posted on all my major faupeaus and try to be brave enough to let you laugh with me, because the only way through it is to find the humor (after of course I turn a nice shade of purple from blushing).

Chris