Signs my Spanish is improving

The primary reason for taking my Sabbatical in Argentina was to learn the Spanish language. (It was not the primary reason for my Sabbatical. Rather, 28 years in ministry without such a break and the importance of time for renewal for my spirit, mind, and body were the primary reasons. They are the reasons any and every pastor should be taking regular sabbatical breaks during their careers.) But I could have accomplished those goals in many different ways, in many different places, with a different Sabbatical. But a secondary, important reason for this time away from the regular duties of the pastorate was to have time to immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking culture to develop the ability to communicate in Spanish.

This past weekend I had several experiences that confirm for me that I am developing that ability. First, on Friday afternoon I had walked to town after school to withdraw some money from the bank. On my way back up the hill to the house where I was staying, a group of chicas (young girls) stopped me and asked me, in Spanish, where Calle Mitre was located. I actually understood them, and I was able to tell them where it was, in Spanish. Now I realize this was not a complicated task, but it all happened so naturally, without any great struggle on my part, which is the real indicator for me of my growing ability with the language.

On Saturday, I rode the bus up the lake to Porto Panuelo and took the boat excursion on the lake that visits Isla Victoria and the Bosque Arrayanes. On the boat I met a very nice young couple from Chicago, Tom and Jennifer, who live in the River West neighborhood and were vacationing in Argentina with almost no Spanish skills at all. I was quite impressed with their adventurous spirit. I also met a very nice young family from Tigre, which is a distant suburb of Buenos Aires. (Their two daughters are pictured above trying to feed the sea gulls crackers on the boat.) I spoke with them quite a bit, all in Spanish. They overheard me telling someone I had been in Cordoba, and the wife/mother was originally from Cordoba. They also heard that I was from Florida, and they are planning to take their daughters, about 6 and 9 years old and extremely cute and precocious, to Orlando next year. I also carried on a conversation with one of the guides about the Bosque Arrayanes, all in Spanish.

Then on Sunday I had what turned into quite an adventure. It was a beautiful day again, so after relocating to my new home I set out for Colonia Suiza. This is a little hamlet in the mountains where Swiss immigrants settled over 100 years ago. There is supposed to be a city bus, line #10 run from downtown to this little town, but I never saw one of those buses this entire day. Rather than wait around in downtown for one, I started walking west on the lakeside road, figuring I could flag one down when it came along. I walked about 5 kilometers and then stopped at a bus-stop to wait for a bus. I waited about an hour and finally decided to take the next #20 bus to Cerro Campanerio, from where I figured I could walk to Colonia Suiza. I did. It turned out to be 6-7 kilometers, up and down some pretty steep hills, over some very muddy roads. I finally found the town and enjoyed a delicious late lunch of Goulash con Spetzle followed by Mousse de Chocolate con Café chico. Fue muy rico! (It was very delicious!) I then inquired with the owner of the restaurant where the bus stop was located and she directed me, but said it would be two hours before one came. So, she flagged down her parents who were just leaving to drive back to town and they gave me a ride into Centro Civico. The entire 27 kilometers we conversed in Spanish! We discussed life in Argentina, in the United States, about the church, about politics, all in Spanish. It was the greatest kindness shown to me so far in Argentina and it was a real sign I am growing in my ability with the Spanish language.

In addition, I am communicating much more freely with my hostess and with service people around town (waiters & waitresses, those who work in the little markets, the bus drivers and taxi drivers.) Compared to my almost total inability to use the language 5 weeks ago, I am truly amazed at the progress I have made.