Want to introduce you all to one of my favorite new people, Reyna.

I met her last November when I was in the throes of total intimidation at even coming to our church’s Hispanic group.  Many weeks, she was the only other woman there, so we bonded pretty quickly.  At that time, though, she spoke no English, and I spoke very little Spanish, Read the rest of this entry

It was another cultural learning experience for me this weekend as Nancy and I threw the Hispanic Ministry’s first baby shower.  Nancy is married to Mario, the ministry leader, but like me, she’s a “Gringa” – frequently the only other one there on Sunday nights.  So, yes, we’ve sorta bonded.  Read the rest of this entry

The boys and I picked up a couple friends from the Hispanic group we’re in on Sunday nights and took them hiking at Patapsco Valley State Park, this afternoon.  And besides being an excellent friendship-builder, this afternoon also proved to be one of expanding our Spanish by immersion.

Stand-out words of the day:  former slur terms that are now used as national identification slang (often with pride) by the various people of Central America.

Happy to share. Read the rest of this entry

Our copy of the U.S. Census 2010 arrived today, and true to claim, it took me less than 10 minutes to fill out.  For any of you who haven’t received yours yet and are curious, you can see all the questions on the form on the U.S. Census website.

The most interesting thing (and it’s pretty straightforward, so nothing really enthralling) was that there are two separate Race/People Group questions – #8 and #9. I guess I didn’t pay attention to that last time, just checked “White,” “White” (oh so very pale) and moved on.  Hadn’t even met Fred yet, last time.

But this time, answering for our whole family, I actually had to stop and think how I wanted to fill out the latter question.  Read the rest of this entry

Been home for a week and a half, and for some reason this trip has thrown me into “reverse-culture shock” unlike any other I’ve been on.  Maybe it’s the kids – going from CIPI to my own five year olds who can read, write, and explain the Louisiana Purchase in-detail.  That we have so much stuff here, after spending one day with no running water there.  Or that I was working alone most days, so I’m “debriefing” myself as I talk about my experience with everyone else who asks.

Or maybe it’s something else.  Don’t know.   But at any rate, I’ve been struggling with a bout of something like “survivor’s guilt.”  I went, I played with some kids who have nearly nothing, and then I came back to my very-comfortable life here in the U.S.  Meanwhile those same kids are heading into another week of only basic physical needs being met.  Read the rest of this entry

I’m here!  And eat your hearts out, Marylanders: it’s 90-some degrees and sunny.  Stepped out of the airport and it was a far cry from what I left this morning when I stepped into BWI:

Read the rest of this entry

Lest I become too comfortable and then unduly complacent in the Hispanic ministry group I mentioned joining back in the fall, I was hit with another stretch-goal last night: sharing mi testimonio (my testimony as a Christian) – en español.

I think our group leader likes me.  But he announced to the group a few weeks ago that “Kim has volunteered to go first and will be sharing her testimony in Spanish next week.”    – Announced it to them before announcing to me that I would be speaking so soon! 

Only he said it IN Spanish, so it sounded like

 >>Kim se ha ofrecido a ir primero y va a compartir su testimonio en español la próxima semana.<<

… good thing I understand more than I can speak or I’d have never known!   

I wasn’t exactly feeling the love at just that time. Read the rest of this entry

About a month ago, I finally bit the bullet and began attending a Hispanic Bible study our church supports.  It’s a group that’s been meeting for a couple of years now, and Fred and I were invited to come; but we never had because we knew we wouldn’t fit in very well.  However, as I mentioned in a prior post, we haven’t been all that connected to Hispanic/Latino folks in our area aside from those the boys and I have met while out shopping every week.  And it was time to try something more proactive.

I went to the first meeting with what could best be described as a feeling of dread.  I’m not really a shy person, but I’m not that good at not being good at things.  And I am not good at speaking Spanish!  So I was a little bit terrified that I would be received with something resembling “What are you doing here you silly white girl?” Read the rest of this entry