Interversity.Org

Dear Friends, Please do not expect me to speak Spanish like a veteran when I return; I'm not even on the level of a toddler yet! I have about two sentences and several phrases at my command (so to speak!). The school is in the central part of this 400 year-old city and is very old. It resembles a ancient office building. There is only one other student in my beginning class, a retired police chief from a small town in northern California. He claims he is looking all over Mexico for a place to retire. During class he thinks and acts like he knows everything, but our teacher told ME that I have excellent pronunciation! So far, after one day, I feel totally ignorant and tongue-tied, and hope this does not last too long. When in my safe environment in Minnesota this sounded like a great adventure, but the reality is quite different. It is a very isolating experience. I am determined to get as much out of it as possible, a source of pride (and economics!). Other North American students here so far are busy doing their own thing, and that is learning the language. Within a few days I hope to have made some friends. So far my impressions of the city are limited, but on week-ends I hope to take buses to outlying areas. !Currently my big project is to learn Spanish since I have discovered to my dismay that it is muy dificil and the teaching is rapido!