Settling In...

Ana came over this morning by bicycle with her two year old Chloe. We were just getting ready to come see her at the bakery she wanted to meet at. Probably a good thing she came to us-we weren't really sure where we were supposed to go. Our plans were to wander in the general direction she had indicated, and hope she'd see us...Works for us, it really does...
Ana says her English is bad...what I must sound like with my feeble attempts at Spanish! Between sign language and Michaels' interpreting-we have a hilarious conversation about the open market in Puerto Viejo on Saturday, laughing at our mis-communications...She was telling me the best vendors to buy "organic cheese" from, I was convinced she was talking about "organic teas".
Michael is surprising even himself in his Spanish ability. We watch in amazement as he holds quite fluent conversations, asking for what he needs, and even forgetting and speaking to us in Spanish. he says he doesn't think he was ever so fluent, but now it's just coming out of his mouth without a need to translate. He describes it as not translating to English in his head and then back to Spanish, which is what I do-well, and I throw in a few french words too-very analytical approach...Michael is very auditory, so it seems easier for him to speak Espanol-often he hasn't a clue how to spell it though. Me, I learn visually, so I ask everyone to write it down for me, and then I know...Allie seems to learn it both visually and auditorily and Gabriel seems to share his father's gift of hearing it-he is picking Espanol up quite easily. It's tempting to rely on Michael to manage for us, and translate...
On the beach Gabriel and I were stopped by "securidad'. Michael and Allie were way up ahead. These guys wear a tee-shirt identifying him as security and carry huge machetes on their backs...they don't talk or smile-sometimes they nod at you curtly. I want to take their photos but never know if it's "protocol". They are a little intimidating! This fellow didn't speak a word of English. I didn't know if I was in trouble, danger...what? Turns out, he had seen us on the beach often already and just wanted to say "hi". I was very impressed with myself when I managed to introduce myself and Gabriel and say we were living here for three months. Michael did join in eventually and have a conversation in a little more depth, but...we're learning!