Introducing Ligia

Today I would like you to meet one of my newest friends, Ligia. You pronounce her name Lee-he-yah. Ligia is one of my students . I have been teaching her English since March. Ligia is from Cordoba, Mexico and she has always lived in Mexico until moving to Houston last year. She is married to Agustin and they have one son and twin daughters. The minute you walk into her home, it is obvious that Ligia loves her family and extended family...pictures abound! She grew up in a rural area and she loves to tell stories of her days running around barefoot, climbing trees, exploring vegetation, and caring for animals. Even today, she will take me to her little garden and gingerly show me her newly planted herbs. Many a language lesson has been interrupted when she sees a "beard" outside...that's her cute way of pronouncing "bird". And then she will run off to get her camera and try to get a close-up of a Bluejay or a Cardinal.

She has told me so many stories of her family. Tears come to her eyes when she recalls her dear Mother who died when Ligia was only 21. I'm so happy for her that she will be able to return to Mexico for Christmas!

Many cute and funny things have happened to us as we have forged our friendship. Language has often been a barrier, since I know very little Spanish, and yet somehow we have been able to laugh and cry and pray together! Here are a few glimpses into our friendship:

• We cook with each other. Ligia has taught me how to make Poblanos con Pollo and I helped her make Salmon for her husband. When I first said the word "salmon", Ligia blushed and giggled. She asked why we Americans called it THAT word! After several minutes of pouring over the dictionary, we finally figured out that she thought I was calling the fish "semen"! Embarrassing, but we still have belly laughs over that one!
• Often I have gone shopping with Ligia. Last week we were at the Disney store buying gifts for what seemed like every child in Mexico! The salesperson asked Ligia if I was her Mother-in-law and Ligia laughed. "No", she responded. "She is more like my Mother!" I took that as a very special compliment.
• Ligia NEVER would let me babysit the children. I would often volunteer, but she was very hesitant to say yes. It was a great honor when she and her husband let me watch one of the twins while they were at the hospital with the other twin. Since then, I have been asked often and every time I consider it an honor because I know it is a huge sign that they trust me.
• Last week, Agustin could not get away from work to go with Ligia and the twins to a follow-up appointment with a specialist. The doctor discovered a cyst on little Maria's kidney and he wanted them to take her to a specialist at Texas Children's Hospital. Ligia asked me if I could go with her and watch Gabbie while Maria was checked. I had never been to this hospital and was in awe of what a wonderful facility it is!! In the short amount of time we were there I got a small glimpse of hurt and hope as parents waited with their children to see a doctor. When we left, Ligia said, "Joyce, when I first came to Houston, I saw this big building and read the words 'Texas Children's Hospital', and I prayed that I would never have to take one of my children there, but today I am here." Today we rejoice that Maria is fine and that the cyst is not cancerous!
• Every time I call on the phone, Ligia says, "Hello, my English teacher!" She briefly had another teacher before me and that teacher taught Ligia the wrong pronunciation of many words. Because of that teacher, Ligia often says things like, "I have a head H." It took me a while to teach her that she needs to say "ache" that rhymes with "bake" and "lake". Now it's our little inside joke when we say we have a "head H" or a "stomach H".

Tomorrow is Ligia's birthday and we are going to celebrate with an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins! Happy Birthday, my friend!

P.S. Ligia and her husband are both college graduates and very intelligent. She is a journalist and he is an engineer. Their son did not know one word of English last year. The school strongly advised them to place their son in a bi-lingual school. Agustin was very firm that they allow their son to enter a regular 4th grade class. It's been one year, and last week at the conferences they gave a glowing report on their son. He will be entering honor classes for middle school next year. He also was in the school's spelling bee and received second place!!!! The families that I work with place great value on education and learning English. They never cancel class - it is an important priority to them.