So if you hadn’t heard– this morning I made the mistake of drinking Bryan’s “watermelon flavored drink”… Turns out they put pre workout drink mixes in packets that are marketed toward kids (aka: me) and make it in fun flavors like watermelon. After walking outside and bench pressing a couple of trucks, it only took about 2 1/2 hours for my body to stop feeling like it was covered in stinging bees. So if you learn anything from this blog– don’t do that. Trust me.
Wanted to share a video today of some sweet Mayan kids we have at the hospital. These kids speak a Mayan dialect called kaqchikel. The Mayan language has over 20 dialects, and because many of our rescues come from remote indigenous mountain villages, it is not unusual for the families to speak Mayan or very difficult to understand Spanish blended with Mayan accent.
These sweet kids speak only Kaqchikel and do not understand Spanish at all. For me, I kind of feel right at home with these kids… where I have learned my Spanish by immersion, figuring out how to communicate has been fun and exciting. I love how smart they all are… not only are they wanting to learn Spanish, but they want to learn English as well!! They are definitely learning Spanish and English much faster than I’m picking up Kaqchikel. 😉
As I work daily to communicate with these kids… As cheesy as this sounds, I realize the language that speaks louder than all, is the language of compassion. Making an effort to talk to them no matter how ridiculous I sound, is investing in them and showing that they are valued and loved. Sure, I’m a nurse… but stopping to talk to them for 10-15 minutes… braiding their hair…. and counting from 1-10 in Kaqchikel, Spanish, and English has been such sweet moments during my days of working.
Today, I want to thank Katie Brill for your love and generosity!!! As a doctor in the US, Katie understands compassion better than most people I know. She’s smart, she’s kind, and she is a big reason why we’re able to do what we do here! Katie, I can’t wait to have you down here again so you can see all the growth at the hospital and meet some of these Mayan cuties. 🙂 You are asked about frequently down here and we can’t wait to have you back to visit!! Ütx matoix for all you do for not only us, but for the kingdom. <3
Nan chik y janila yatinwajo’
Te quiero mucho!
-Whitney
EDIT 11.16.16– added these videos of them talking in their own dialect upon requests 🙂 it’s hard to get on video because as soon as I pull out my phone they all start giggling and running away! 😜 None of these videos do the language any justice– it sounds so interesting when they’re speaking, the language has a lot of “clicking noises” to it.
