Context Clues and Rainbows by Leah Katherine Saal

 Context Clues and Rainbows

            I have noticed, over the last several days, that I can “get by” listening to Spanish and semi-understand what is going on around me.  By no means can I produce it meaningfully, but at least I am finally “getting the gist” of what is going on.  I am beginning to learn a few nouns, verbs, and phrases, but much of my comprehension has nothing to do with my knowledge of Spanish. The setting, tone of voice, activities, and environmental print/graphics in my location are helping me to piece together a working comprehension.  It helps that I know quite a bit of French and Latin, which are also providing me with syntactic and syllabic clues.

However, yesterday, I was thrown from my burgeoning comfort zone of language again.  There are several of us who are sick, and, after a sinus infection was waging war in my head and winning, I asked to go to the doctor.  Deanna is sick as well, and we were taken to see Dr. Victor, who the same doctor who saw Blair.  Because neither of us speak enough Spanish to navigate a doctor’s appointment, we were escorted by Kenny and Ms. Margaret.  I have never felt so infantile in my adulthood.  At the same time, as I sat in the waiting room, feelings of gratitude for my companions as well as deep empathy for my adult literacy students washed over me.  I now know exactly how frustrated and helpless they must feel when they go to the doctor and must bring a friend or family member with them, because they feel that they can not read the forms, effectively explain their symptoms, or be able to comprehend enough of the appointment to ask pertinent questions. Hearing about an experience doesn’t compare to having it yourself.

Once I arrived in his office, Dr. Victor was wonderful, as all the people I have met here are. He spoke very strong English, so there were no problems, and we didn’t need Kenny’s translation. But I could not help but wonder, what if he had not or I had to be alone?  Even acquiring my medication from the pharmacy or reading the dosing instructions on my prescription would have proven a challenge if not impossible without the help of my host family, who have been so kind and thoughtful through all of this.

Stack of meds. Note the braille - very wise.

Hector's picture of the double rainbow

The Pena family has welcomed me with open arms (in sickness and health).  Yesterday, on his way to work, Hector even snapped this picture for me of the double rainbow because he thought it would be a nice photo for the blog.  As I write this post from bed, I am beginning to feel like I turned the sickness corner, which is good because I am eager to return to TJS tomorrow.  I know that this trip has provided me with amazing opportunities to see and be a part of another academic life and culture, but it has also given me priceless opportunities to reflect on my own.