Reassurance

No sooner did I finish my last post, than I decided to go downstairs for a cup of coffee. I'm feeling pretty rotten and wondering why I'm even here today: The computers in the lab aren't working and my class didn't happen.

As I approach the coffee stand, I see one of my favorite students, Luis, who's in my other English class. He greets me in Spanish rather than English as he usually does but seems very surprised when I start talking to him in Spanish. He starts asking me simple questions, as if testing my level of comprehension and then tells me that I had been so dramatic when I said I was still learning Spanish but that I speak very well.

About 10 yards away another (former) student spots me and waves. As he gets closer his eyes start to bug out of his head and he comes up to me and goes "I didn't know you could speak Spanish!!" Luis scolds him and tells him to talk in Spanish, but the other student, who's name escapes me (I taught him for like a week a month ago) looks disappointed and I reassure him that he can practice his English with me if he wants. He gets excited again and invites me to come sit with them.

Suddenly everything seems to get that much better and once again, I'm happy to be here. Happy to be teaching, happy to be learning, happy to be in Colombia.