How To Love Without Language

Every July, a team from the United States arrives to help with the summer campemento.

All the girls, big and small, look forward to this kid vacation full of games and
crafts, ocean excursions, and time to dance together under the gazebo.

There are 25 girls and 25 American leaders, and a very low second language
fluency rate (myself included in that statistic). I now know that shared
language is not a requirement for creating meaningful friendships, and as the
Americans unloaded themselves out of the van with all their awe and curiosity fully apparent, I wondered if they were worried about the same things as I was on my first day here.

By the time of the campemento, I had completed my first month out of nine for my internship with New Hope Girls. I arrived on the island fully confident that my seven years of Spanish classes in high school and college would carry me through every conversation I encountered. After rumbling through my first few conversations in Spanish, I realized the depth of my false confidence and panicked. I thought, how can I love these girls without a shared language?

I was very concerned about this: concerned about sticking out too much or
being too needy because I was not easy to communicate with. I wanted to be useful, and I realized my skillset was limited. The girls, however, were barely phased by our language barrier—they knew how to care for one another, and for guests, without any words at all. I began to learn from them.
I remember my second day here when a girl handed me a cup of water. With my own water bottle in hand, I almost told her, “No thanks!” but then decided to accept instead.

One of the interns whispered to me, “That means she likes you!”

I was overjoyed! Could it really be that simple? After that, I began to notice
other small moments of wordless conversations. Ways to say, “I see you” and “I’m glad you’re here!” Actions, it turns out, can speak loudly. I had just
underestimated the power of them.

Showing up is the first and most important step. The American team boldly
moved in this way at campemento, and by the end of the week, there was a
mutual friendship between the American volunteers and our New Hope Girls.
Some of these friendships have been growing since this campemento tradition began nine years ago, and some that were new and fresh. Trying to connect through words or actions is never in vain. Don’t overthink it—just try to show up.

In photo: Lauren (Me), Joy, and Renata.

 

Jump in the pool.
Play volleyball on the grass.
Laugh at laughter for the sake of your spirit.
Teach them a dance from home,
swirl them around and around.
Watch the Olympics together,
cheering loudly for every team.
Let them braid your hair.
Pause with them as they rest mid-hike.
Greet them all hello and goodbye.
Bring them a glass of water.
—Show up for them.

 

By: Lauren Campbell