| When it comes to experiencing the culture of a | | | | very friendly with me and we enjoyed ourselves. |
| foreign country, sometimes a slow pace is the better | | | | After our scrimage, a Guatemalan girl (Nancy) and I |
| pace. | | | | laid down on the pavement and enjoyed the beautiful |
| I lived in Guatemala for a while. I remember learning | | | | day. I said something about my parents "mis papas" |
| Spanish and having red-cheek moments when I | | | | (the accent is supposed to be on the second syllable) |
| "messed up" the language. My face would burn and I | | | | with the accent on the first syllable. Nancy didn't |
| would once again tell myself to just shrug it off and | | | | know what I was saying because instead of talking |
| keep going. I was going to learn Spanish! If you've | | | | about my parents I was talking about fries or |
| ever wanted an experience more than you cared | | | | potatoes! It was another embarrassing moment to |
| about the possibility of awkward embarrassment, | | | | add to my list but I wouldn't substitute language |
| then you probably remember how easy it was to | | | | translation services for that fun experience. Language |
| progress during that time. Despite my | | | | translation services can be an undesirable protection |
| embarrassments, I never would have coveted | | | | against personal language experience. |
| language translation services because I wanted the | | | | I remember later on when my parents and |
| learning experience. | | | | grandparents came to visit. I was enthralled with the |
| I remember a particular time I was coming out of | | | | idea of them coming to the land that I had fallen in |
| church and there were groups of people standing in a | | | | love with. I loved the people, the weather, the |
| sunny courtyard. It was very pleasant as many | | | | colors, even some of the smells and I couldn't |
| sunny days in Guatemala are-never too hot. I was | | | | imagine someone else not falling in love with my |
| familiar with some of the faces but still struggling with | | | | beloved Guatemala. However, when my parents and |
| the language. I was determined to be friendly | | | | grandparents arrived they didn't seem enthralled. In |
| however and so I said what I could and smiled as | | | | fact, their reactions were very different than mine. |
| much as possible at some of the people around me. | | | | They, like many others (just a fact and not a |
| Finally the group of people that I was standing | | | | judgment) responded to a new culture the easy |
| by-after some polite and limited conversation-- said | | | | way-with language translation services. I was a part |
| "nos vemos" which is basically like saying "we will see | | | | of that service, as was a temporary tour guide who |
| each other again." I however was more familiar with | | | | annoyed me because I wanted to be surrounded |
| the phrase "nos vamos" which means "let's go" so I | | | | with Spanish, Spanish, Spanish! I couldn't understand |
| started to follow them. When I was favored with an | | | | why my relatives didn't want to bathe in the |
| explanation of my discomfiting mistake, it was | | | | mistakes that a foreigner has the opportunity to |
| amusing for them and not quite as amusing for me | | | | make. Language translation services only kept us |
| but let me assure you that language translation | | | | safe. Language translation services dampened |
| services would never have taught me so much. | | | | considerably a trip which I thought would be |
| Language translation services can be an undesirable | | | | different. Language translation services can be an |
| protection against personal language experience. | | | | undesirable protection against personal language |
| Another time when I was with a group of young | | | | experience. |
| single adults. It was a beautiful day and we sat | | | | Sure. In a legal setting, a business setting, or in a |
| around talking a bit, smelling the meat cooking and | | | | technical setting there is a time for language |
| just enjoying one another and the wonderful | | | | translation services---and speedy ones at that. |
| weather. Before we were going to eat, I started | | | | However, there is a time and a place when a slow |
| playing basketball with some of the girls. They were | | | | pace is the better pace. |