Wow, taking 5 to 6 hours of Spanish a day can be intense sometimes. Ya know, you would think I would have been prepared for TOTAL immersion when I was originally informed it it TOTAL immersion...lol...well, it hit me the most yesterday. I was in a class with 3 others and we are learning past tense verbs (preterito and imperfecto). Well, I just was not getting it. Imagine having only a bit of Spanish in high school...15 years ago (taught in English by the way) and then arriving to a school that only speaks Spanish....directions and everything. My famous response yesterday was...Estoy muy confudida (I am very confused). There is absolutely no English spoken in the classes. I think it is a good thing, but I have to admit that yesterday was a day of frustration. My teachers are really great, though, and we always have fun in class....there is not a day without laughter! A fellow student had a book on Spanish grammar and verbs (written in both English and Spanish) so I was able to make a few photo copies of some of the pages...helped me out a lot. I am discovering more and more what kind of learner I am. I am quite visual and need visual prompts. I am going to try to find a few resourceful books that can assist me in my studies.
Today I woke up a bit sick....sneezing, runny nose, and even quite dizzy this morning (yes, I nearly blacked out 4 or 5 times while trying to prepare breakfast). Aweful! BUT I am getting better and my mind seemed to work much better in class today than yesterday. I need to remind myself to be realistic and not to expect to be fluent in only 10 weeks.....but a woman can hope, right?
I am amazed at how time if flying! Tomorrow is already Thursday, and the weekend is right around the corner. I just got word today that my brother will be visiting me here next month so I am so pumped! I am going to take 3 days off from my studies and travel with some Rotarians to the other side of the country. Apparently, there is some pretty amazing fishing. So that will be fun. There is also going to be a lively cultural festival taking place. So I am looking forward to that and to seeing a different part of the country.
Until later.....
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Ok, so I have an interview for a job in 35 minutes and I find myself reading your blog. But, for good reason...I am interviewing for a company, Levi Strauss as a Financial Analyst for their Foundation that just so happens to donate large sums of money to Save The Children. God works in amazing ways...I hope that I can somehow step into this position and influence the cash flows and increase and make more go toward your passionate work in Africa for the children who are affected by HIV/AIDS. I am so proud of you that you are learning Spanish. I will try to work on it now so that we can converse together in ESPANOL gringo style hahahahah!!!!
ReplyDeleteVanessa, girl you crack me UP!! Gringo style, eh? Oh, I really hope you get that job. It's sounds wonderful, and they donate money for children...that's fantastic! Yes, God always works in amazing ways! Keep me posted, girlie. Miss your craziness!
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