I was in the AMUR house this morning, like usual, tending to the little store. It was doing some work on my computer to prepare for my site presentation in the afternoon (my PC boss would be visiting to introduce me officially to the community, plus I would give a little speech). And then I hear a bird enter the room. It’s a picaflor (manemby in Guarani) — hummingbird. And his wing is disabled, and he’s flying around all a mess. Hits the ceiling fan, bless his minuscule heart. Sigh.
Text message beep. It’s from my host mom (HM). I will translate and add color commentary.
HM: Buen dia mi hija, como amaneciste? Dormiste bien?
Translation: Good morning daughter! How did you wake up? Did you sleep well?
Commentary: She knew I was a bit of a anxious wreck about the site presentation meeting and that I had lost some sleep worrying about it.
EMILY: Muy bien. Hay un picaflor en la tienda. No quiere salir ni comprar algo!
Translation: Very well. There’s a hummingbird in the store. He doesn’t want to leave, nor buy anything!
Commentary: Did you see that? I made a joke!
HM: Y hoy es primavera y seguro que entró para saludarte como sos linda como una flor.
Translation: And today is spring, and surely he came in to say hello to you as you are pretty as a flower!
Commentary: HM is funny, too. Also, picaflor has a second meaning. It also means “lady’s man”–as it is someone that moves around from flower to flower.
HM: Te acuerdas que hoy vamos a tomar vino para festejar que pasó la reunión?
Translation: Do you remember that today we’re going to drink wine to celebrate how the meeting went?
Commentary: Words of encouragement–do well today, and we’ll toast with a glass of wine!
EMILY: Si! Es posible olvidar una escoba, pero olvidar que vamos a tomar vino…Nunca!
Translation: Yes! It’s possible to forget a broom, but to forget that we’re going to drink wine…Never!
Commentary: I forgot to bring home a new broom last week from AMUR because my brain was fried.
HM: Jaja, verdad!
Translation: Haha, true!
Commentary: I still think it’s funny that haha is jaja here. Of course it is.
Entonces, over tortillas paraguayas and a glass of wine, tonight my host mom and I celebrated a really fantastic site presentation meeting–there were lots of participants, my speech went well, and my community members said some very kind things to me and about me. As it turns out, a day that had me worried sick turned about to be one of my best days yet in Paraguay.
Update: my friend helped me get the picaflor out of the store. However, he didn’t live to see much more of spring. This is her with her adorable son.
I’m going to be honest, sometimes when an article is posted and I can only see it on my phone, I scan it for pictures and save it for a real computer tomorrow.
So bottom line is that I saw the picaflor didn’t survive for much of the spring and I thought that something terrible happened to that little boy!!
Signed,
Only English speaking Tim
Haha. Glad you read back over for clarification. Miss you Tim!
Miss you too!!!
We are SO DELIGHTED everything went well. You are SO capable, Emily. The people in your village are blessed to have you there to work with them – and for them. They will fall in love with you just as your host family has. ALL is well. The foundation has been layed. You will build community now. Your enthusiasm and inner light is contagious. Where ever you go, you will bring hope and peace. We are so proud of you! Hugs and kisses, Mom
Thanks Mom! Those are such encouraging words. I’m gonna be a rockstar! You know this.
Emily
Things do go better with vino. Loved the pics of your chicks.