For the last year, I was pronouncing it all wrong.  I was saying something like,” Sandrisa.”

While trying to use one of my nifty-fifty words of Spanish, this one word wasn’t quite translating for me.  I would say it over and over again, and kids all around the world (because I like to speak Spanish all over the world), would give me a puzzled look.  Eventually, they would give me the results I wanted, but only after I  did handstands and acted like an ape.  However, I continually said, “sandrisa,” because nobody corrected me…until this last week.

Last Saturday, in a little crash course of Spanish at our church, I said it again, “Sandrisa.”.

And then my husband made fun of me (all in love of course).  Apparently, the right word is “Sonrisa.”  Smile.

Ok… I was a bit off.  It only took a year to figure it out.

Today, I decided to use my new and improved Spanish word while here in the Dominican Republic.  I saw this little girl, and instantly decided to try it out.

“Sonrisa.” I said enthusiastically.

So, this is what I got.   Ok…it was not quite the “Sonrisa”  I was looking for, but that is ok.

But when I said it to her….

“SONRISA!”

I  got this in return, so I started feeling more confident with my new Spanish word…even if she looks a little…strained.

But the more I said it…

The more and more they did it!Until finally, I knew I had succeeded!

“Sonrisa, sonrisa, sonrisa!”

I love this word!  I love these smiles.

The children of the Dominican Republic are stunning to say the least, and I am happy that I now know 51 words of Spanish.

“Sonrisa!”

Not sure about the red tongues though!