Life Changing Verbs

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Poco y poco, my spanish is improving. Now, I can use about 25 verbs. But only in the present tense.

The first three weeks of study, Amabilia taught me regular verbs. Those that are conjugated according to “the rules”.

After 5 weeks of studying, I’ve progressed to “stem-changing” verbs. They are irregular. They are not conjugated by “by the rules”.

Remarkably, as my mastery of the language has gone from “regular” to “irregular”, the opposite has happened to my sense of Antigua, and of myself.

What, at first, seemed remarkable and strange, has now become commonplace and comfortable.

A table full of gila monsters. That’s normal.

A small, beautiful child under a vending table. Normal. Having to pretend to take a picture of a cat to get her photo. Normal.

The love between Senora Martinez and her daughter. I see this everyday. How lucky they are. But here, loving your family is normal.

The handsome, warm smile of my favorite Mayan human rights worker. Wonderful. Exciting. Very Guatemalan.

Four multi-colored parrots on a stick. Exquisite and typical.

A smiling man walking with a very small kitten through the marketplace. I see animals in unusual places here all the time.

And of course, there are big purple dinosaurs. I especially like Barney because he taught Luke how to “give a great big hug and say ‘I love you”. His open arms remind me of the people here.

As the verbs in spanish class have progressed and changed, so have I.

I am deeply connected to this place of exceptions. Its culture and its people have changed the way I perceive the world, and what I want from it.

Once a news addict, I have only a vague concept of what ABC, CBS and FOX think is happening in the world. Their view is so limited.

Here, I am not worried. I am not afraid. I am not self-conscious. Perhaps it’s because I’m on a vacation of sorts. But I think not.

Guatemala has shown me that each of us is “irregular” and “regular”.

There are no rules about how to be who you are.

No longer can I label any person: Christian-Secular, Liberal-Conservative, Gay-Straight, Republican-Democrat, Guatemalan-American. We are all much too complicated and too beautiful for that.

In Guatemala, I am connected. To others. To myself. And to the God that so loves the world. His energy underlies everything I experience here. I can be irregular, forget the rules and still be perfect.

I can’t wait to see what happens as I learn to speak in future and past tenses.

In the meantime, mis amigos, why be regular?


Adios amigos,
Cynthia

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Photos

Monsters
A whole table full for sale. Normal

Cats roam free
But I did not want a picture of it. Regular

Babies under vending tables
She was so cute. Normal for Guatemalan babies

Family Love
Araminta and her daughter Claudia. Extended family is important and normal here.

Warm, Generous Smile
My friend Julio has a great Guatemalan spirit.

Parrots on a Stick
These birds are beautiful and noisy.

Kitten in the Bag
This kitten was traveling in a plastic bag with its owner.

A Great Big Hug
And remember "I love you".

Comments

[Susan T]

What a beautiful view
Hi Cynthia: I am so touched by your writing and your view of your experience. Your sensitivity to life and the way you capture it in words is quite lovely and heartwarming. I feel privileged to be witness to your personal journey. Susan T.

[Cynthia Beck]

Gracias
Thanks Susan, It is wonderful to be able to share this great place. I appreciate knowing that others are enjoying it with me. Thanks for the nice comments. Cynthia

[Kerry]

Cynthia, I have so enjoyed your tales of Guatemala and as the weeks pass I look forward to reading your next entry. You’re very eloquent in your speak of the Latin culture and in reading your daily experience through your eyes, I come out experiencing a bit of the same. It brings me back to a time not long ago where I too was profoundly touched at the heart. I think I’ve mentioned to you of my four year stay in Mexico City. During my stay I learned so much about life, love and God. I was forever changed. I miss you. Let’s get together upon your return. Thanks again for heightening my visual experience. Love, Kerry

[Marco]

Oh Dear Cynthia
Welcome to the Leapers' Club! You don't know how happy your postings make me! For years I have been inviting some of my friends to take time off and travel in a "simple" country, like Guatemala. I've been trying to explain how "life changing" these experiences can be. Very few have accepted my advice. It is so much more easy to accept the status quo than to move forward! Until you have experienced it for yourself, you can't understand how the exposure to the charms of ordinary people will transform anyone into a better human being. As you know, like you, my transformation took place when I was in Antigua. Now, to see you experiencing the same kinds of emotions and natural awes, is very fulfilling for me. I am sooooo happy that you took this BIG step into the unknown. Ron and I both knew that the unknown was far less scary and dangerous than the media would like us to believe. And we both knew that with your candid personality you would fit right in anywhere you went. We didn't doubt it for a moment. But seeing you muster the courage to move beyond your own restrains and to see the person that you are becoming, I really consider myself a fortunate witness. I feel like I'm seeing a butterfly come out of it's cocoon. Not that you were not an amazing person already, but now you will never allow your self-doubt to lead your life. Because you have surmounted your fears and made the leap of faith once, now you can make it anytime you want. Once you have made the leap, you can never go back...and you don't want to go back! I can't wait to hear your accounts of all you beautiful Guatemalan experiences. Have fun in Peten! Marco XX

[Luke]

Regularity
Regularity prevents constipation. That's why I'm regular.