Well, well, well! Who would have thought that learning another language in a foreign country would be so challenging? I seem continually to be on an emotional roller coaster with many ups and downs, mostly downs at this point, but I hope that this changes. Trying to communicate with little vocabulary while trying at the same time to learn grammar rules and word order is really, really difficult. Although I seem to be more frustrated than joyful, I´m determined to learn something useful! But, I sure could use some friends. The more advanced students in other classes spend their time together and since they want to get as much out of their time here, they think little of poor little lonesome beginning students.
The cultural differences are a constant source of interest to me. Guadalajara is a very old city, and it shows its age. I am actually leading a healthier life style here with fewer amenities which I took for granted at home. At first I was put off by the length of the walk I need to take each morning to catch my bus (15 minutes) and then a 30-45 minute ride to the central city for classes in a very old building, but the walk will be good for me!
Students get out of classes very early here, and like students everywhere they seem to hang out in malls. There is one quite nice one, Plaza del Sol (has a nice ring to it, doesn´t it)where I observe them when I walk from mi casa (another 15 minute stroll after I get home from school), and where I found a cafe!! Just like home!
More later!
Comments
La montagna russa
I think that's "la montaña rusa" in your part of the world.
Well, geez, if you can't look down on beginning language students, who can you look down on?
Sorry it's tough--I certainly thought it would be a lot more fun (and, obviously, so did you!). Don't forget that it's harder for us to learn languages when we get into our "advanced" years ;p).
Paciencia, querida Kate, paciencia. No construyeron Roma in un día, e no hemos visto el final.
Un beso,
Wendell
Friday Greetings from the Northland
It's great to be able to keep up with your latest adventure. I'm sorry that your reaction is mixed at this point and hope that you soon feel more at home. I can certainly relate to the language frustration. In Germany, I took a morning German class and would arrive home in tears, having just failed to understand one word of the conversations I overheard on the bus. It ain't easy. There isn't much to report from here. We had our January thaw, the natives still complain that there isn't enough snow, and you don't even want to know that latest from Washington and Iraq. Calvin and I are going to the cabin next week, where we'll find plenty of winter - over two feet of snow on the ground. Hang in there!