I got skills.. they're multiplying.

I find it startling at times when I can actually impress a Nicaragüense. Its not that they are terribly hard to impress, but I often feel they see me as a gringa and therefore I simply have different skills. Like I can type very fast or I can speak English. I often have to remind myself that I am fluent (for the most part..) in a language and can often communicate efficiently in North America. But it is a really good feeling when common ground is found when I am dealing with a Nica, and on those grounds, I have knowledge.
Take for instance two Saturdays ago. The casita was preparing for Yadira’s rocking birthday party. Everyone was working like clockwork because, of course, they knew exactly what was going on and how do it. It was just me, the awkward gringa, walking circles trying to offer help. And quite obviously, it was most helpful when I just got out of the way, because seriously, I had no clue how to set up the caldron for the Cow Bone soup. But then I spotted little Jimmito doing something I was familiar with. He was sitting in Dona Yeny’s front room with a giant stack of corn. I could definitely shuck some corn.

So I approach little Jimmy who was surrounded by Dona Yeny, Big Jimmy and Deyring.
“Puedo ayudarte” I say to Jimmy
“Conoce el nombre para este?” Says Big Jimmy holding up a cob
“Maiz” I say
“Yay! Alicia sabe!” They cheer.
(This happens often. They forget that I study plants here and anytime they set veggies down in front of me they look at me with hopeful eyes. They really want to trip me up. They say “Do you know what THIS is?” And I try to hold back my pride and resist the urge to tell them all three names I know for that. I hold my tongue from saying
Allium sativum, garlic, ajo
Cucurbita pepo, pumpkin, ayote)
So when I passed the “Name this vegetable” test, they quickly moved aside so I could sit down and help Jimmito. Big Jimmy looks at me again.
“Sabes a hacerlo?”
Yes, I know how to do it. So I demonstrate how I can shuck corn and they look amazed. They wonder, do we have corn in the United States? Do we eat corn in my state? Oh, if they only knew.
Then Jimmito screams.
“Gusano! Gusano!”
He has found a worm in his cob and throws the cob at Deyring who ducks. The cob rolls right in front of me. I reach down to pick it up.
“ALICIA! NO! HAY UN GUSANO!”
I pick the gusano off of the cob and pretend to put it on Jimmito. The poor kid flips out and we all have a good laugh at his expense. Now, anytime anyone finds a worm, I get to take care of it. It is worth it, though, to feel like I can help just a little.