A Hippo Adventure in Chihuahua Mexico

By Karen Cvitkovich, Massachusetts

When I found out I needed to go on a business trip to Chihuahua, Mexico, I thought of it as any other trip until I happened to mention it to Steffi, my Hippo Fellow (a facilitator of a Hippo Family Club). "Chihuahua!" she said, "That's where our Mexican Hippo office is. You should stay with a family." That is when my adventure began.

It had been over twelve years since my last experience living with a host family, but I knew it was the best way to get to know a country and to learn the language. I filled out my application, began listening to all my Spanish Hippo tapes and waited anxiously for the day of my departure to Mexico to arrive.

Since my plane was due to arrive so late at night, I spent my first night in Mexico in a hotel. The next day, Javier, my "host father," picked me up. With a big smile and a hug, he loaded my luggage into the car and we were off. The moment I entered the house, his wife, Martha, handed me their baby and welcomed me with a kiss. I was then introduced to their two daughters, Fernanda and Estefania. Sometimes when you meet a family for the first time, there is that initial feeling of "uncomfortableness" but from the beginning I felt completely at ease in my new "family's" home. In broken Spanish combined with English, we communicated. I told them about our Hippo Club in Boston and showed them pictures of my family.

The highlight of my trip was going to Hippo Club in Chihuahua. We went to the home where the Hippo Club was going to be held. Hippo Club members greeted me warmly at the door. The smell of freshly made tortillas filled the air and we sat in the living room to wait for the other members to arrive. Most of the members could not speak English with me so, more than ever, I needed to use my Spanish. It was, of course, not like a classroom, but a situation where I wanted to communicate with ny new friends. I was amazed by how much I could understand and although I couldn't say all that I wanted to I could communicate with them and answer their questions. I think I learned more in those four hours of Hippo Club than I did in four years of high school Spanish.

The following day I spent with Martha and Javier. We talked about everything as friends who had known each other for years. As I said, I have stayed with other host families, but this time was somehow different. The common bond of Hippo Club and the understanding that these people also wanted their world to be bigger than their home country created a common understanding that usually takes more time to form. I improved my Spanish (although I still have a long way to go!), I saw a new city, but most importantly, I feel through this trip that I gained new friends. Muchas gracias!!