Expanding My Vocabulary

Learning a new language is always tough.  I've got three years working on Kaqchikel and I'm just getting to where I don't have to have a translator.



While a lot of people have taught me, most all of my real Kaqchikel learning has come from this woman--Ixkamey.  She has taught me nearly everything I know and her patience is incredible.

Perhaps most importantly, she's let me become part of her family.  We joke that I'm the taller, whiter sister.

This year has been no exception.  Some of the gems I've learned this year:

wuxtuxil- my heal

ruqül nuq'ab- my wrist

päk- the scaly dry skin on one's heal

xiq'ol kan- I was deceived

xajan- a sin

e tioxi'- twins (people)

patax- twins (fruit)

peyon- contract worker

tzaqät- even

ninbutz' wuq'- I pleat my skirt

I don't know how many times I'll work päk into my interviews, but at least now I know if someone is talking about how scaly my skin is.

Hobbling to Interviews

I'm back for another vuelta of fieldwork.  The transition has been a lot easier this year than last.  I cam straight from the LASA conference.  While this was incredibly frustrating and tiring, it was also energizing.  I had great fun with my fellow Guatemalanists.  Also, our panel has been approached about doing an edited volume on gender and indigenous migration so fingers crossed.

The biggest obstacle thus far has been a fall in Antigua on a free weekend.  It is not broken, just horribly bruised. One week out the swelling has decreased, but it is still pretty bruised.  So I've been hobbling around and trying to rest as much as possible.  Tomorrow, I'm off for my first interviews in the aldeas- rural hamlets-post fall.  We'll see how it goes.

On the upside, this has given me something to talk about in those odd silences that come when you live with a family, but only kinda know each other.  There is no limit to how many times people will want to comment on the state of your bruised foot.

Also, I'm going to try to actually keep my professional blog this year.  We'll see how it goes.  In case you forgot it is: http://pajotol.wordpress.com/

Chwaq Chik!