Introduction to Spanish

Friday, the chicas walked into Pucón to have a lunchtime encounter with a few local English language students at our favorite eatery, Latitude 39.

Susan explains what to expect before the students arrive.

There will be several intervals, each ten minutes long, devoted to speaking in either Spanish or English. When the daughter of our hosts, three-year-old Dublin, rings the bell, conversation changes to the other language.

Locally brewed Kunstmann cerveza, or schopp, is on tap to quench thirsts and aid in breaking through the language barriers. SanDiego-style fish tacos and lettuce wraps also help sustain the speakers between rounds.

Hand-to-hand arm wrestling brought the participants mano a mano when mere words weren't enough to express the passion of communication.

Lunch ended too quickly when the students had to return to their jobs, but they were all invited to attend the asado to be held the following afternoon at a quincho in the foothills and continue the conversation then.

After lunch with the language students, the chicas walked across town to volunteer a little play time with some children at the Hogar Bettania, Pucón's girl's orphanage.

Recently re-painted and well maintained, Hogar Bettania is home to about 22 girls and young women, orphaned, or abandoned by parents who cannot care for them. Susan is a regular volunteer, playing jump rope outdoors with the younger girls while the weather allows.

BobbiJo demonstrates how to play "pattycake".

Joslyn and Cate offer some wlecome physical contact.