“Do you have google translate?” - What language barrier

 “Do you have google translate?” - What language barrier

The staff working the front desk of the hostel only spoke Spanish. And with any language barrier there needs be one party that at least understands a little bit of the others language to have any communication. With the very limited vocabulary learned from my one Mexican friend in ESL class in grade 4 I was getting very confused. Thank goodness for technology and google translate. It went something like this. Staff typing what would you like for breakfast in Spanish. Turns computer. I Speaks out loud. “Ahhh. What would I want for breakfast.” Smiles. “Do you have boiled eggs?” Turns back computer. Ahhh ok. That feeling of being understood is amazing. We all want to be understood.

“I wish I brought something other than my camera” - On being scared.

Our group was going on a short hike to see a waterfall before our main adventure the next day. It was a nearby route that in my head seemed to sound like a leisurely stroll. I brought my camera and some cash just in case I fancied getting something. I followed along and walked and walked and walked and walked. There were no signs along the way, we asked some folks heading back from the direction we were heading towards if they knew how close we were. There must have been some lost in communication because we passed by some “waterfalls” that could only be described as streams falling from some rocks. By this time the sun has started to set and we turned around heading back. Very soon the dark sky loomed over. I was left walking by myself beside a rail way track in pitch black with no one around me. With nothing on me but a camera and some cash I found it difficult to restrain my tears. What was I doing? Why am I walking by myself next to a railroad in pitch darkness in a foreign country with no idea how long it will take to get back to my hostel. Did I even know the way back to my hostel? I didn’t have a map with me. I couldn’t keep pace with my group and there was no one around. After what seemed like forever. There was a divergence in the road and I was greeted with groups of school kids singing in the dark and marching. I felt extremely sad and alone that night as I made way back to the hostel.

“Maybe we should turn back” - On getting lost.

Between the choice of walking back on our own and waiting for the shuttle to pick us up. I trusted my partner to know where we were going when he suggested walking back. Again very reminiscent of previous walks. Nothing on me. The moon shone brightly as we walked on a foreign road. Maybe we should turn back was all he said. And we did. This time walking back to the little town. Trying to call our guide to pick us up. Unable to get through in the middle of no where. Being handed the phone and telling me to deal with the situation. Sighs. Thankful for the kids who sat beside me waiting for our guide to realize we are lost and come back to find us. Don’t go anywhere without a map or if you haven’t walked the paths.