English. That’s where this was going. Similar to many schools in the States that are required to teach basic Spanish, Panamanian schools require that English is taught at both primary and secondary schools, even in the indigenous region. Therefore, being the only native/fluent English speaker for miles, the kids and adults flock to me for help. This is when my lack of patience shines.
Peace Corps Second Goal states, “to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served”. In case you are wondering, yes, that includes English help. I try to remember this throughout my service but sometimes it can just be so hard. Recently though, a full two years into my service, I have found my little ray of English sunshine that gives me a little more patience for the rest. His name is Vicencio.
He is a 72-year-old man with a sprightly walk, a love for learning, and come to discover a knack for language. It all started in May when he came to my house one sunny morning, waiting until the other visitors left so we could talk in private. “Meriyi,” he says, “I want to learn English.” “BUT,” he emphasized, “No one can know I am learning it because the other ancianos, old people, will judge me for wanting to learn English, especially at this age.” I saw his point. We planned a date, and he came with his heart covered notebook and a pencil and sat at my table declining coffee because it would make him too jittery for class. Declining coffee. That’s how serious he was taking this. We learned the alphabet and practiced the letters by playing Hang Man with the few English words he knew. He came to the next class greeting me in only slightly broken English, “Good Morning” and responding to my “how are you” with an, “I am sick”. And he is sick. He knows he has the beginnings of cataracts and without accessible treatment, a limited amount of time to see. He is constantly suffering from respiratory infections and his wife as well. Yet, he comes to every class having practiced the phrases to the best of his ability, eager to continue his learning until his mind can grasp no more for the day. We learn, we chat about the use of certain English words and the proper time to use them, and we explore traditions of the Ngäbere culture I have yet to learn.
Vocabulary
Ancianos- elderly people
Confianza- trust