so here i am not even through my third week of study and im kicking myself in the head for not knowing how to speak spanish. i know its crazy but its the way i tick apparently. my maestro says my written grammer is almost perfect, my pronunciation makes these people weep its so good but i just cant bring myself to actually speak the language. ive heard of eye-hand and eye-foot coordination but who knew about brain-boca? i know it will happen. i couldnt understand a single word coming out of anyones mouth when i arrived and now i can pick up the odd word or two. its coming but its like pulling teeth. i so wanted to impress pete when we meet in belize on 12/23 and im sure hell act impressed but i know where i am. it was up in the air for a while weither i would return to Xela for more study or go somewhere else to study. im definately coming back here to continue. its a fine school with very profession staff and maestros. id recommend it to anyone.
so, if anyone wants to come to guacamole for a visit ill be in Xela till 12/23 and then in belize for a week. back to xela from 01/03 – 01/19 or so. THEN maybe Equador for a few weeks of more spanish study and adventure in the forests and volcanoes and MAYBE Galapagoes Islands. SHUT UP!!! its a little expensive to get there from the main land but i think it may be worth it. i dont know if i can bring myself to scuba dive there though. pete would hate me for sure. supposed to be ABSOLUTE heaven. Rick and Randy have any comments here? anyway, so thats what im a thinkin at the moment. if anyone has other suggestions about when and where to go and what to see im all spanish ears.
smooches,
que
Pete | 14-Dec-06 at 10:23 pm | Permalink
Don’t have to worry about me being impressed – I already am… And it sounds like exactly what I deal with in german… grammar and pronunciation in german is good but i’m so shy I have a really hard time talking to anyone or understanding real conversations.. makes me feel super lame… went to Walzwerk last night and couldn’t bring myself to talk to the people there… *sigh*… sucks…
you go diving in the galapagos without me I’ll be sad… I’ll recover – but MAN… Cuz diving in Belize and the Caymens this year ain’t enough? Jeesh… (just kidding – if you can go for it.. .:):))
xoxo
p
kevin | 14-Dec-06 at 10:31 pm | Permalink
galapagos is SCARY.
Pete | 15-Dec-06 at 1:10 am | Permalink
No – Galapagos would be COOL… and I wanna go… maybe i’ll just have to bail out of here and meet ya! ;)… (Given that i’m your dive gear mule i’d have to anyway! 😉 :))
Michele | 15-Dec-06 at 5:41 am | Permalink
I freeze around the verb tenses. The only way to start is to START. Just do it. I have never been snickered at, made fun of or laughed at when I speak/try to speak Spanish with people for whom it is their native language. They LOVE it that you even tried. (Navajo’s on the other hand are VERY critical about how you speak – thosefolks get ALL huffy about it.)
They will love that you tried, they are extremely patient and they feel honored that you try. You cared enough, saw them as valuable enough to try to learn their language.
That is the TRUTH. Do it!
Michele
I mean it Kevin…do it.
Brian Brantner | 15-Dec-06 at 8:15 pm | Permalink
Michele is right, you need to start blabbing and stop worrying about it!
This is the exact same thing I did in my French class in Paris. I didn’t want to say something wrong, so I didn’t say anything at all and now I kick myself for it. Start making mistakes now! That is how you learn. Pretend that you are Audrey. She’ll say something any way she can to get her point across. Screw verb tenses, screw needing the exact word, screw pronunciation.
Just start babbling like a crazy person and let them correct you over and over.
kevin | 15-Dec-06 at 11:30 pm | Permalink
OKAY; OKAY; you people are crazy. i´m getting there.
been talking more today and telling the folks from other countries i´m only speaking in spanish to them as well.
so there.
Brian | 15-Dec-06 at 11:38 pm | Permalink
Loves you.
Britton | 17-Dec-06 at 2:01 am | Permalink
Kevin! Como estas? Hace a whole lot of frio here today, so the photo of you in the volcano lake place made me verde with envy.
I agree with Brian: pretend you’re Audrey. Everyone tries extra hard to understand her, and gives her chocolate when she pees in the potty. 🙂
Have a great Christmas in Belize! I’ll check back for mas photos.
bob | 18-Dec-06 at 12:42 am | Permalink
Diving in the Galapagos was one my best dive trips. Really beautiful.
Michele | 18-Dec-06 at 1:54 am | Permalink
Good on ya’. Keep doing it.
Michele
kevin | 18-Dec-06 at 9:03 pm | Permalink
BOB,
thanky for the input. tell me more. any clues as to companies to go with or stuff and things?