Vaction ends and the work begins.. Insight from the term To Be.

Hi again,

Well I've officially been in Antigua for one week. My Spanish has improved in this last week, but having my wife here visiting from Wednesday until this morning made it feel a bit more like vacation than work. After a teary goodbye this morning when I sent her off to the airport, it feels like the work part of fieldwork is just now beginning.  I'm home sick already- for someone who has spent so many months far from home for most of my adult life this might seem strange but I love and miss my family fiercely when I'm away.

Anyhow, in a half hour I'll be moving out of my hotel and into the home of a local family here in Antigua. I'll only admit this to you of course but I am a bit apprehensive.  Living in a stranger's home can be intimidating but I also know it will greatly aid my efforts to improve my Spanish and offers a great way to expand my understanding of others' culture.  I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Unfortunately, I'm coming down with a cold-  but somehow it is much more comforting to say "I'm sick" in Spanish than in English.  In Spanish there are two different words for "To Be" (ser and estar).  The one used to say that I'm sick implies that it is not a permanent condition. It also applies to feelings as well. So when I say in English that I'm sick or I'm sad (both a bit true at the moment), there's not indication specifically that this is just a temporary state (though it is).  In Spanish, this is more clearly defined by the form of 'to be' that I use to be only a temporary state as sickness and sadness both are!  Just another example of how the rules of the language have subtle influences on the way one might think about a situation or condition.  I'll take comfort in knowing that when I say that I'm currently sad and a bit sick these too will pass.

Chris