A brief entry this evening. I visited Hogar-Albergue Nuestra Casa yesterday afternoon. When I met a few of the girls who live there, safely out of reach of the abusers in their families, I wanted to cry. I feel compassion for these girls. The shelter director and I agreed to volunteer on Wednesdays, beginning on April 3. We are aiming for afternoons, assuming I will continue morning classes next term. The director proposes that I lead simple artistic activities with the girls, such as drawing and painting and other plastic arts, with no single activity lasting longer than 45 minutes to an hour. I may also visit on Sundays in the morning to conduct prayers with them and maybe some songs (alas, I do not play guitar).
Three more items of news to share with you from studies and social activity at the language school:
The Wednesday morning conference with Óscar Olivera Foronda about the Cochabamba water war went well. Joshua and I had a full discussion on La Guerra de Agua with Profesora Julia today. It pleases me to report to you that we were able to talk for a good half hour together, the three of us, about topics like government corruption, popular democracy, and ideologies (capitalism and socialism) with some depth and nuance. Joshua and I let Profesora Julia lead, but she definitely yielded to us when we had something to offer. She enabled us to form extended thoughts and patiently waited for us to give utterance to them. Looking back, I appreciate the work all of us did to make this little breakthrough in long-form conversation on a grownup topic possible. First, we read a document about the Water War on Monday. Then we discussed the document on Tuesday and saw some videos about the conflict. Then we had the presentation itself on Wednesday, which gave us more opportunities to listen, absorb, and reflect. Finally, we had the grownup conversation today. I look forward to more progress in this direction.
Today, Joshua and I practiced basic oral communication skills by reading aloud several Scripture passages. Profesora Liliana gave me positive feedback on my pronunciation. She says it is very clear and very precise, and I am getting the practice of la ilación, so important to the speaking of Spanish, in which the consonants and vowels at the end and beginning of consecutive words flow naturally into each other. She also offered advice on how to improve my accent. Gaining an accent is helpful for non-native speakers because it will create empathy in listeners for whom Spanish is the mother tongue. Quite simply, all I have to do is open my mouth more and enunciate the vowels with greater definition. The more shape I give to the vowels, the more my voice will gain the timbre or tone of native Spanish. More progress!
Finally, Joshua and I were encouraged by our teachers to take advantage of the opportunities to ascend the mountain peaks here in the Department of Cochabamba. We heard about Tunari Peak, which is at over 16,000 feet. The drive is no more than two hours, during which you make a very gradual ascent along a gentle slope. Then you make a hike for the final 1,750 feet. You get to see llamas, and you get to see more sky than you ever dreamed. Emilio, one of the staff at Maryknoll, arranges the trip and obtains our guide. Well, that settled it for us. Joshua has rounded up a crew of students to go on Saturday, March 30. Stay tuned for more details.
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