Everybody's Working for the Weekend!

Well, here I am, and boy do those words to that famous 80's song ring true for me!  What a week it has been indeed!

In my community there will be seven of us.  At this moment two of the members are away and will return at some point this weekend.  The Brother's have been very good to me so far and have been very good at correcting my Spanish, but also allowing me to make mistakes so that I keep trying.  As the week unfolded, my Spanish became a bit better.  I celebrated the Mass in Spanish on Thursday and Friday.  Needless to say it was an act of humility.  For a guy who is pretty confident in what he does, I was very nervous presiding at the Liturgy.  In English, I know most of the prayers by heart and use the Missal very little.  Well, in Spanish I am tied to the Missal and have to use ribbons that I never use in English.  I hope in time this will get better...ojala!
 I do feel like I am in the Novitiate all over again! The day consists of Morning Prayer followed by Mass and Meditation and breakfast in common.  During the remainder of the day the other members of the community are involved in other things while I go off to school.  In the afternoon the main meal-La Comida- is eaten.  The evening consists of Evening Prayer followed by Meditation and La Cena.  So, as you can see I am immersed in Spanish from the time I get up until the time I go to bed.

( 4 of the Mexican Brothers:

Top: Nereo and Regulo

Bottom: Fermin and Juan)



When I first said yes to my Provincial to go to Mexico, I was supposed to go first to our community in Puebla and study at a Language School there.  That school was approximately 30 miles away by bus and walking.  Well.... In Queretaro I spend between 2.5-3 hours a day in travel time to and from the school.  The bus ride is also not the most comfortable mode of transportation.  The seats are designed for people who usually don't exceed 5'8" and are on the slim side-and as you all know, I am neither! Right now I listen to music on the bus.  Perhaps in a little while I may use the time to read or study Spanish, but for now, that time of English music is a respite for me. 

 

The name of my school is Ole'.   I am enjoying my classes and my teachers.  I was alone in my grammar classes which was both great and challenging at the same time.  I was able to get very personal attention, but I was always in the "hot seat".  I enjoy my conversation class because there are two other students in the class besides myself.  A Japanese woman and a Dutch man.  So, whenever we talk about "life situations" it is always good to hear how things are handled or done from different cultural perspectives.  As with most Language schools, the student body changes from week to week, so I do not know if I will have anyone else in my grammar classes but I am pretty sure that I will remain in the same conversation class.  While my Spanish may be a bit better than my two counterparts, I have to remember that this is the third language for each of them!  During the week I also met a young Polish priest who serves a priest for the Diocese of Savannah.  This was his second time coming to the school to study.  He works with the Latino population in his diocese.   It was good to have someone to speak with during the breaks.  He leaves tomorrow. 

So, all in all, it has been a good week. Ten Lessons learned this week:
1. How to get to and from school without getting lost!
2. I have been here for 5 days and I will not speak or understand as if I have been here for 6 months
3. Each day gets better.
4. From the Our Father, "Give us this day our daily bread"- my daily bread is the ability to make it through another day and not worry about next week or next month. 
5. The Brothers I live with are good men.
6.  Something as simple as not having a reclining chair in your bedroom can be off putting and a source of consternation.
7. I miss my friends, family and community members more than I thought I would.
8. Community life is the same wherever you go-there will be people who eat the food you specifically purchased for yourself and then go on to eat everything else!
9. While its important to review and be prepared, it's not the end of the world to make a mistake.
10.  I am definitely not in charge.... taking the bus is a metaphor for Mexico-sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for why things happen or don't happen-it's just the way it is.

Well I am working for the weekend here.  Happy to be free from travel and classes for the next two days.  Keep me in your prayers!  Would love to hear some responses.  Muchas gracias por tu amor y amistad.