"I am called Anamaria." This figuratively the way you introduce yourself in Spanish and literally how it is for me. When I arrived in town, I met the director of the school. I told her my name, and she said in Spanish, "Anamaria is much easier for us." I just laughed. Enough of this sensitive North American crap! So Anamaria it is!
So many things already. Much of it because it has been so long since I traveled abroad, have never traveled to Central America, and don´t identify as being a tourist, which in fact I am. Living in DC, I am used to being the one who gives directions, has opinions on what to visit, where to go, the easiest way to get there. So it gives me a new perspective to be the one who has no idea of the context I´ve just plopped myself in.
In one funny twist of events, I have been to more evangelical Christian events in the past four days than since I was in college. I am living with a very lovely family. Mom and Dad and four children ages 15 to 4. They are evangelical Christians and so are many of their friends. So the first night I went to church with them and didn´t understand most of the words, yet understood everything. Everything is the same. The songs, the prayers, the music videos, the energetic preaching, the raised hands, the emotion. Everything. It is a world very similar to the one I used to live in. I had ambiguous feelings about whether I actually wanted to understand Spanish.
Last night to I went to a concert with the mom and her good friend, who are also in their young 30´s. It turned out to be a Christian concert which half the town attended. There were women in the aisles shaking and people praying outloud, with the leader prayer very loudly. I looked around and of course I was the only gringa. I´m sure this didn´t turn up in the Lonely Planet guide of local activities. But I was glad to be there. In some ways everything is an interesting anthropological experience. I´m glimpsing the life of a community and a family. Also, it really doesn´t matter the event, people speak, or sing or pray, in Spanish, and that´s what I´m here for, verdad?
