In the Poesía Corporal workshop, I enjoyed applying Graciela Casanova’s directives, such as “Decidense. Hagalo. Haga errores. Escuche al grupo.” “Be decisive. Do it. Make mistakes. Listen to your group.” She explained hesitation takes away our presence. We can make a mistake, but should make it with confidence.
In thinking back on the workshop now, I realize I was resistant to one of Graciela’s directives:
“Olvidense aprendido”/”Forget what you have learned.”
Graciela said this to all us, though it particularly applied to me as I drew my responses to activity prompts from prior movements I’ve learned – dance, yoga, physical therapy, Zumba. Graciela would come up and whisper in my ear something I’d only half understand due to getting used to her Argentinian accent, so I’d clarify, “Is it good or bad?” “Bad!” she’d say. I’d protest a little in my head, I like the way certain movements I already know look and feel, why throw that away for me to struggle to try to move off beat? I realize now that focusing on what I already knew, detracted from listening to the group. We were creating something new and had to start from the ground up making mistakes together.
I am creating a new chapter of my life here. Figuring out how to blend my culture, myself, my life, into my Nicaraguan context and re-figuring out how to effectively communicate. I can apply Graciela’s advice to various aspects of my life, but in particular I can use the advice I found most difficult - forget with I’ve learned. Forget what I learned in order to listen to the group and create something new. Not everything of course, but I can loosen grip on what I learned is normal, right, and good. Two examples:
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In thinking back on the workshop now, I realize I was resistant to one of Graciela’s directives:
“Olvidense aprendido”/”Forget what you have learned.”
Graciela said this to all us, though it particularly applied to me as I drew my responses to activity prompts from prior movements I’ve learned – dance, yoga, physical therapy, Zumba. Graciela would come up and whisper in my ear something I’d only half understand due to getting used to her Argentinian accent, so I’d clarify, “Is it good or bad?” “Bad!” she’d say. I’d protest a little in my head, I like the way certain movements I already know look and feel, why throw that away for me to struggle to try to move off beat? I realize now that focusing on what I already knew, detracted from listening to the group. We were creating something new and had to start from the ground up making mistakes together.
I am creating a new chapter of my life here. Figuring out how to blend my culture, myself, my life, into my Nicaraguan context and re-figuring out how to effectively communicate. I can apply Graciela’s advice to various aspects of my life, but in particular I can use the advice I found most difficult - forget with I’ve learned. Forget what I learned in order to listen to the group and create something new. Not everything of course, but I can loosen grip on what I learned is normal, right, and good. Two examples:
click "read more" ---->
First a simple example. In Costa Rica, I got used to “Tico Time” where an hour past an agreed upon meeting time may not actually be late. I understood this norm to apply throughout Latin America. While it does apply in some cases here, I have found many of the people in my life define “on time” as beginning exactly at the agreed upon hour. This is true for my language exchanges, classes, meeting with a friend for hikes, and meeting with Don Jaime. It’s a reminder that cultural generalizations are just that, general, and don’t apply to everyone. I shouldn’t hold on too tightly to the norms I think should apply here.
Second, I grew up asking questions. Questions are how I show interest in a topic, demonstrate I am paying attention, and, generally speaking, a question in a neutral tone means what the words signify. For example, “When are we leaving?” can be asked as a genuine question, just for my information. Though, if spoken with some attitude, “WHEN are we LEAVING?!” it can change meaning to “Let’s GO people!!!”
Here, however, questions seem to most frequently imply an unstated opinion, which then the other person will seek to uncover. “What are we having for lunch?” Is met with, “What do you want to eat? Do you want to eat something different?” If I don’t reply with a suggestion, the suggestion is likely to be further elicited through lunch options to choose from. Per local norms, suggestions and opinions are best not given directly, but can be shared indirectly through asking a question. Using questions to imply opinions isn’t entirely foreign to me. In the US, if my sister at home asked me, “Are you wearing that out?” I’d respond, “I was going to. Why? Does it is look bad?” However, I’m used to questions being just one tool for sharing opinions and questions can simply express seeking information with no further implications. I have not yet figured out how to ask questions simply for information sake. Except with folks who are exceptions to the norm, people who have adapted to and enjoy more direct communication, preferring people simply state their opinion, but those folks are unusual and they know it. (Again, a reminder that there are exceptions to any norm.)
Last weekend I unintentionally communicated via a question. I was still tired after breakfast and was wishing for some more coffee, but didn’t want to trouble my host mom to grind more and make another press just for me, nor did I feel like doing it myself. Then I began to wonder - the French Press is the correct amount for the three adults here, but what does she do when there are more people. So, I asked. She explained they have two travel mugs with built in presses that she uses in addition to the French Press. Then, about 30 seconds later, she asked, “Would you like more coffee?” To which I sheepishly replied, “yes.” I didn’t intentionally mean to ask for more coffee, but I did want some. Score for questions! While I’ll keep working on this one, makes me wonder how many times I have missed the implication of someone’s question by simply responding, “We’re having salad for lunch.”
Second, I grew up asking questions. Questions are how I show interest in a topic, demonstrate I am paying attention, and, generally speaking, a question in a neutral tone means what the words signify. For example, “When are we leaving?” can be asked as a genuine question, just for my information. Though, if spoken with some attitude, “WHEN are we LEAVING?!” it can change meaning to “Let’s GO people!!!”
Here, however, questions seem to most frequently imply an unstated opinion, which then the other person will seek to uncover. “What are we having for lunch?” Is met with, “What do you want to eat? Do you want to eat something different?” If I don’t reply with a suggestion, the suggestion is likely to be further elicited through lunch options to choose from. Per local norms, suggestions and opinions are best not given directly, but can be shared indirectly through asking a question. Using questions to imply opinions isn’t entirely foreign to me. In the US, if my sister at home asked me, “Are you wearing that out?” I’d respond, “I was going to. Why? Does it is look bad?” However, I’m used to questions being just one tool for sharing opinions and questions can simply express seeking information with no further implications. I have not yet figured out how to ask questions simply for information sake. Except with folks who are exceptions to the norm, people who have adapted to and enjoy more direct communication, preferring people simply state their opinion, but those folks are unusual and they know it. (Again, a reminder that there are exceptions to any norm.)
Last weekend I unintentionally communicated via a question. I was still tired after breakfast and was wishing for some more coffee, but didn’t want to trouble my host mom to grind more and make another press just for me, nor did I feel like doing it myself. Then I began to wonder - the French Press is the correct amount for the three adults here, but what does she do when there are more people. So, I asked. She explained they have two travel mugs with built in presses that she uses in addition to the French Press. Then, about 30 seconds later, she asked, “Would you like more coffee?” To which I sheepishly replied, “yes.” I didn’t intentionally mean to ask for more coffee, but I did want some. Score for questions! While I’ll keep working on this one, makes me wonder how many times I have missed the implication of someone’s question by simply responding, “We’re having salad for lunch.”