I just so totally had a "My Fair Lady" moment!! Have you ever been in a situation where life imitated art so much that it caused you to stop everything and just laugh?? I love those moments!! Sometimes it happens with a Seinfeld episode, and usually, as in this case, it is so out of thin air, that I am surprised and sort of delighted. This time, I am happy with my Eliza Doolittle moment.
I am currently trying to learn the dialect of the Eastern Samar region of the Philippines. While it is true that the national language of the Philippines is Tagalog, each region, it seems, has a different dialect, each quite individual and unique...so much so that when Sister Michelle, who is from the Antique Province in the Philippines, came to Eastern Samar, she had to learn the dialect here, which is Waray. Antique is 18 hours and 55 minutes traveling by car, and they speak a totally different language there! And so it is with each region of the Philippines. Most people know Tagalog, and many know at least a little English. But the many different dialects make learning and communicating language a bit difficult, to say the least!! Now, the Oikos Sisters travel all over Eastern Samar helping people. They go to the northern barrios and the southern...Borongan just happens to be in the center. Even each part of Eastern Samar has its own dialect of Waray! We wouldn't want to make learning this new language easy, now would we???
Over the course of this past summer, my sweet Aunt Margie taught me how to drive a stick shift car, as all of the cars the Sisters drive are standard transmission. I remember being in the car with her one day and being frustrated that I kept stalling, I was becoming very agitated with myself. But I realized that it has been quite some time since I tried to learn something new. Children, who tend to pick things up relatively quickly, are in that new learning mode. Their brains are set on receiving new information all the time. My brain, although quite active, has cobwebs in the learning new things department!! So, I decided to give myself a brake, so to speak, no pun intended, and give my brain time to adjust to learning something new. I did get it, by the way, and I really enjoy driving a stick shift car, so thanks, Margie!! (Driving in the Philippines is another entertaining post for another day!)
So now I am trying to learn Waray. And once again, I am frustrated. I want to be able to participate in conversations NOW!!! To give you an example of what I am facing, here are a few words in Waray:
I am not sleepy: Diri nahingangaturog ak.
What time will we start?: Ano nga oras kita magtitikang?
I am going to the market.: Makadto ak ha nga mercado.
Good night: Maupay nga pagkaturog.
Those are just some random sentences. Of course there are tenses, the subject comes after the verbs, and let's not forget that if you put the intonation on the wrong syllable...it may mean something else. Then too, some of the kids are taking a liking to teaching me slag, which I have no idea if it is proper to say or not...they think it is so funny!!
Well, today after mass Sister Clarissa was talking to a friend, and I knew what they were talking about! And just now, in my room, looking at the nerdy flashcards I made, I knew a lot of the vocab! And all of the sudden into my head pops the song, "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain!" I had a moment of realization that, while I am no where near fluent...I am getting it! My oldish brain is beginning to light up with the vitality of youth, and I am happy!
I should say here that earlier this morning, I was reading today's passage from a great book called Divine Intimacy, given to me by a great friend, Kate Hahn. It has been several days since I have read from this book and today, I felt a tug to pull it off the shelf and read it. Today's message:
"Oh Lord, I do not desire knowledge that inflates, but the humble learning which comes from You, enlightening minds and enkindling hearts. Give me knowledge, Oh Lord, and I shall be able to enter into study and work without any danger of vainglory. I want to use the intelligence You have given me by employing it in Your service; I want to make it fructify for Your glory and for the good of souls. ... Sanctify, Lord, my studies, my work; grant that love may transform all into a means of apostolate." St. Catherine of Sienna
So there you have it. Ultimately, all knowledge comes from God, and quite simply, a little prayer said before studying, reminding me of why I am doing this, why it is so important, and who I am doing this for sweeps the cobwebs from my brain and gives me the stamina and patience to learn. ...and a quick prayer of thanks afterwards never hurts!!
I'm not ready yet to do the Dr. Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle dance...I'm still at the part where he is putting marbles in her mouth!! But I can see the end now, I know I'll get there, and I'll know who to thank when I do!!
Praying for peace...hope you are too!! xxoo Sarah
