Today I share some funny moments with a stranger, in a strange land, in a strange language!

Let me explain… While I was in the U.S., I always liked to try to encourage the people I encountered while out and about. I would compliment someone on their color choice or on their outfit or whatever I felt led to say. I always tried to make them feel happier about where they were and who they were.

I haven’t really been able to connect with people here, on that level quite yet. You really need to be able to communicate more easily to be able to do that.

Well, today I had the best time at a fast-food restaurant here in Cochabamba.

I had to stop at Panchita’s (Bolivia’s BETTER equivalent to McDonald’s… fast food, but done well) to get something for Steven to eat when I got home. I decided to go ahead and spend the money to feed the family, so there were 3 big bags! A lady had gotten in line behind me and then made a joke about wanting to get in front of me so that she would have a shot at getting served! lol… I teased right back with her about how we were “listo ahorita” (ready right now) so she needn’t be concerned. We giggled about big families, back and forth while I checked the order to see if Steven’s special’s had been done correctly.

I thought that they had (the one on top was right, but not the other one… ). Anyway, I thought they were perfect, so I wanted to thank the manager who had tried to make sure that all went well. I caught his attention (and the lady was still to my left) and said, “Senor, muchas gracias! Estos estan perfecto. Puede aceptar ‘perfecto’?” ["these are perfect. Can you accept 'perfect'?"] LOL… BLESS his heart! He thought I was trying to BARGAIN with him! “puede aceptar” means “can you accept”…

The lady to my left got it! She laughed too, and then I repeated it, changing the word “perfecto” to “exactamente” and then HE got it and just BEAMED! He asked if I needed anything else and I said “O no, senor. Tengo todo y es mejor porque’ esta mujer necesita ayuda! [pointing to the lady to my left, with my arm around her]” AGAIN, bless his heart. SHE is just reeling with giggles and he’s concerned that he hadn’t taken care of her soon enough. I said, “No senor… no se preocupa, por favor. Es solo un bromeo!” I told him that we were just joking with each other and then we all had a good laugh.

I made a joke with a total stranger in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language! YES! lol… you see, I love having fun with strangers in stores in the U.S. I try to make them smile or make them happy about what they have chosen to wear that day, or whatever else the Holy Spirit lays on my heart to say. It’s so nice that I’m getting closer to that point here in Bolivia.

Cochabamba is said to be one of the most sullen cities in Bolivia. I’ve heard this same sentiment from a wide variety of people who are Bolivian and have lived in and visited other cities in Bolivia. We had noticed it too, but didn’t have a body of experience with other areas of Bolivia with which to form a context.

However… as with most people, when faced with a warm smile, they generally respond with one of their own… or at least a few cracks in that mask!

Love to all,
Cyn