Since I was in Panama for my birthday, we decided to postpone my "Venezuelan celebration" until the following Saturday. We combined all my favorites with my favorite people: arepas, gellato, and dancing. Seriously, best birthday party ever!
Highlights:
-All sitting together at dinner at a long time split up into 3 sides: the English-speaking side, the Spanish-speaking side, and "both" in the middle. I was, of course, in the middle. But all the ones who are bilingual kept moving from one side to the other. Love having a birthday in Spanish and English!
-Everyone sang the Venezuelan birthday song for me. The entire restaurant was looking at us....so loud and great! Then Kayla translated it for me...it's actually a really nice song. Our favorite part is when you yell "natal, natal, natal, natal!" (which means birth...seems weird to be screaming 'birth')
-Sharing stories over gellato in Spanish and English. Also, realizing how much I am learning Spanish...love it.
-Learning salsa and merengue and dancing for hours! Only 7 of us kept the party going back at the house. However, we had 3 of the best dance instructors ever: Israel, Eduardo, and Danitri. Kayla is a natural and picks it up so fast. She claims I have improved a lot since I got here. I have advanced to a new level...turns, which are more difficult than I thought they would be. I can't wait to keep practicing and learn more!
Also of note this weekend (which happens to be a pun if you read on), an awesome couple from church gave me a keyboard! For those of you who know me, even in the slightest, this is a HUGE deal! Piano is my stress reliever and my way of expressing myself. I have missed it so much. It will also allow me to practice ahead of time for worship band at church. Score!
We got connected with another missionary here and are beginning an English club together at UCV, a university here in Caracas. Can you believe public universities here are free?! Anyway, it's an opportunity to interact with Venezuelans despite the language barrier. We are teaching on topics like self-worth, dealing with rejection, and relationships and will tie in Biblical principles. The class is conversational, so there is time for much discussion. I am so excited and hope it goes well!
Still loving all things Venezuelan!
Spanish word of the day: "Chao pue" means "Bye then!" and is super Venezuelan, but also lazy Spanish. We also learned "Plomo!" which means "Of course" but is a really ghetto word and we get laughed at when we use it.
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Well, sounds like you've had some fun since I talked with you last ; ) That's so awesome that you got a keyboard! Praying for ya as always.
ReplyDeleteloved skyping with you and hearing about all these things. but reading them is awesome as well. keep up the dancing!
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