Esperar is the Spanish verb meaning “to wait” and “to hope.” Add the ending -ando, and it becomes “waiting” or “hoping.”
I love that this one verb has both connotations, because so much hope goes into anything worth waiting for.
I am most certainly esperando now.
I have been esperando patiently for October to arrive. Not only does it mark the happy return of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, autumn in the northeast, and my 23rd birthday, but it is also the month where I could realistically receive an invitation.
I have been esperando for this moment since I attended my first Peace Corps info session in September 2009, esperando since I hit the “submit” button on my application last December, and esperando since my recruiter called me that fateful Sunday evening and announced, “Central/ South America, health degreed, January 2011.”
I have been esperando since I watched my roommate Leo depart for his stint in China, and my global health buddy Sarah depart for her stint in the DR. I get a pang of esperando-itis every time I get an e-mail update from them–the feeling of having so much unused energy that it’s going to burst through my skin if I don’t use it soon.
So I am going to continue esperar, to learn Spanish, to work, to volunteer.
But espero que (I hope that) my wait is not in vain. Espero que October brings with it mackintosh apples, haunted hay rides, and a big blue envelope courtesy of the Peace Corps.
Under My Skin 
I love you so much and I’ll be following this 100%
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Right with you! January, C/SA but in protected areas management. Still waiting/hoping for that fateful email or phone call. Good luck 🙂
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you too!
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I love this entry and I am with you in loving the multiple connotations for esperando. I read in a book recently a story about a volunteer trying to explain the meaning of ‘patience’ in his second language and the best way he could put it was ‘waiting, but being happy while you wait’. He went on to say that it is not being happy because you know that you will get what you want after you wait, but being happy with what you have while you wait. Good luck with everything, I will be following your blog.
Katie
http://peacecorpskatiem.wordpress.com/
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Thanks, Katie. I love the patience definition. I can only imagine that as we learn new languages in the Peace Corps, we’ll encounter more words that simply do not translate. Language is funny. Best of luck to you as well!
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