Hmmm! Topics should be related to learning?? Well, I'll try since recently I have had plenty of practice with education.
Well, after three torturous weeks in a Spanish immersion language school which was a wrong fit with another wrong fit in a homestay (lovely people but a far cry from what was promised) I returned one week early. After I completed three weeks of group and private lessons in Guadalajara, Mexico I couldn't even read the certificate of completion I received. Not all has been lost, however. I learned lots and lots about the culture, daily found my way around a city of 5 million people communicating by using lots and lots of nouns, almost no verbs, and a talent to mime, which got steadily better with much practice. I loved the people, and I think they loved me! I regularly rode the city buses which had no shock absorbers and that had kamakazi pilots sitting in the drivers' seats, and I feared only crossing busy intersections at rush hour, which was approximately 24 hours a day. When I hesitiated, little old ladies invariably grabbed my arm and pulled me across the streets with them.
Yesterday during our city walk which is held on Wednesdays for a short period, I had an interesting discussion with a woman who is taking private lessons on an intermediate level. Much to my delight she revealed that a number of students had expressed discontentment to the director of the school because the lessons are given far too rapidly. Apparently he was not sympathetic and refused to allow his teachers to slow down. Most of these students decided to drop group lessons and take private lessons instead and are very happy with their decisions. I was glad to hear that I was not the only one who feels overwhelmed.
(Note:I do not know how to use accent marks yet on this computer, so I'll have to type without them. Lo siento.)
Una Gira
Today en el paseo, miramos tres edificios importantes. La biblioteca vieja es muy grand y tien muchos libros. Much gente leen y estudian ahi.
Miramos la biblioteca modrena. Blanca, mi maestra, encuentra para mi libro del pintor Jose Clemente Orozco.
Tambien visitamos el museo. Tiene los muebles viejos.
Tambien bebemos cafe Americano y cappochino y caminamos a la escuela.
Rather than complain about how miserable I am because no one as yet has discovered how smart, clever and witty I am, I´ll just give you some of my impressions of this fair, 400 yr-old-city. I HATE being the least able in my class, and not being able to express myself is sheer torture. But, enough of that!
Flowers: It matters not how much concrete surrounds it, invariably a tree laden with oranges or a bush with brightly colored flowers will force its way skyward and delight the eye with color. It seems that all neighborhoods have these stubborn plants that bloom and produce despite their undernourished environment. On my long round trip bus ride each day, it gives me much pleasure to see them.
Today was much happier, and I felt better about the class. I have only one classmate, sheer luxury. On Monday, however, we get two more students to join us. It will be good to share John, the cop, with others to whom he can give some of his generous advice, much of which I have grown a bit weary of... But, then again, if I have to struggle to keep up with the newbies, I'll probably start hyperventilating again. Ah, what the hell, "Rome wasn't built in a day," right!
Tomorrow I made reservations to take a bus to Tequila. Apparently some other students are going on the same bus; perhaps I'll meet a few. But, since they all look like they're not old enough to drink, I doubt that I'll find a soul-mate as I often have on other trips. Hey, I'm not putting down any young folks; it's just a reality.
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.
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.
On Friday Jim left to fly home with some apprehension on my part since I would be on my own with poco Espanol at my command. Getting to the bus to go to Guadalajara was a piece of cake! Gave me more confidence than I have. Taking a "deluxe" bus, an ETN, was the best advice I received. Since most of the Mexican drivers think they are Kamakazi pilots, it was a safe and comfortable journey.
I got to my family by taxi and have found them to be quite cordial. They, however, are not as patient with non-Spanish speakers as I had hoped. Two college girls occupied on a school program occupied another bedroom and helped me a bit, but since they are leaving with their group today, I am truly on my own.
It doesn't seem possible that Jim is returning home tonight! We both wish that he could stay longer.
The last few days we have been exploring the coast, downtown and Old Town. On Tuesday we bused to a snotty resort with snotty employees who were employed to keep out the riff-raff who deigned to join their guests. We talked our way to pool side and ordered a delicious lunch. (Mexican food is another reason to visit this country!) Our waitor, however, redeemed the reputation of the resort, but we still determined that we would never darken their doorstep again. Besides eating, there are no other reasons to go there, unless you wish to see the set of The Night of the Iguana. I prefer seeing the iguanas in the flesh.
As is my usual routine, yesterday I awakened early and went down to the lobby to check my email. With noone else around, I´m able to use the computer beyond the alloted 10 minutes. Another tourist, a man in his 50´s, often is here at the same time, and we exchange pleasantries. Yesterday I waited for the computer he was using because of the familiar keyboard. After he left, I used the machine and noticed as I logged off that he hadn´t closed any of the windows he had been using. As a favor, of course, I would close his also. Turned out to be all porn! I was so startled that I didn´t even peek! I´d like to sidle up to him the next time I see him and whisper, ¨Hey, I closed all your windows for you.¨ Dear husband, Jim, doesn´t think that I should go there. Started the day off with an unusual twist!! (Guess who's here now!)
