We go to Mexico in about three weeks for our go-see visit. I'm really excited because we'll finally get to see what's in store for us for the next three years. We'll also get to try out some of our language skills.Spanish is coming along okay, not brilliant. It's been really hard getting back in to studying a language. When I learned French I spent many dedicated evenings sitting down with a grammar workbook the size of the Manhattan phonebook and doing every single exercise. I took a university course twice, one in Annecy for a few short weeks (I ran out of money and when it came time to pay they kicked me out!), and one program in Tours which was fun because my level was much more advanced by then and I was able to take art classes, culture and politics entirely in French. There were really no grammar classes. That program lasted three months and really boosted my confidence in writing and speaking. Now in learning Spanish what a luxury to have a one on one teacher! She's there for three hours a week just for us! We're so spoiled. The only problem is that either I've sprouted lazy genes since settling in to French life or being a mom has melted my brain. I have a hard time sitting down and studying on my own like I did in the past. In our Thursday classes I'm always the laxadaisical student who doesn't respond correctly. My homework is half finished and I rarely have the answer first. Seb is smart so he looks at something once and then he doesn't ever have to study it again. I have to physically POUR it into my brain daily, shake and stir often and then maybe I can pull out half of it when the time is right.
One thing I'm really brilliant at though is numbers in Spanish. Seb is puzzled because I'm able to spit out all this playground Spanish and he has no clue why. I'm good at restaurant Spanish too, from all that Stateside ordering eating and cooking. That's seems to be my only advantage though. I can order an enchilada and tell you six different ways to make it! Doesn't that count for something? I think I'll be helpful in the evening as we relax by the bar but I'm going to be struggling afternoons as we make our way through the streets of S*n Lu*s P*t*si, Mexico learning about our new home.
11 comments:
Mexico! How exciting. I miss learning Spanish. I find French to be much more challenging. Good luck learning the language. :)
BTW, where do you live? I'm in Annecy.
I heard someone say once that fluency in a language is the ability to feed and house yourself. The rest, they said, is poetry! So, as long as you have the food ordered, I wouldn't worry too much about the rest.
When I met my husband (in Mexico), I was a complete zero in Spanish. I had learned French the same as you, after studying and attending classes for 6 years! I moved to Mexico 3 weeks after that meeting and, five years later, I haven't taken a class yet! There's a lot to be said for just being there, and I think you'll find you pick it up fast once you're there.
Write anytime if you have any worries or questions!
You're going to be fine. :)
Hi Emily I'm in Thonon les Bains which is about an hour from you.
Aly I will be e-mailing you a lot in the near future but right now it's all so abstract. I can't wait to check things out though. It's so overwhelming doing this move. We had no idea how hard it would be!
I'm here when you need me! Though I'm not much of a commenter, I read this and the other blog faithfully, and I am totally rooting for you on every front!
Mi marido and I were in Mexico just a few weeks ago, and we had a wonderful time reconnecting with our life back there.
Maybe our paths will even cross in Potosi or Mazatlan, hmmm???
Take care of yourself, and drop a line anytime!
Chris! I should have thought to ask you earlier...after proclaiming on my blog that I'm going to stay in France next year, I realized that the whole visa thing is going to be a whole lot more challenging than I realized. I have the possibility of staying under the premise of "Au Pair" or as a student, but for both I would need to be taking minimum 10 hrs. of French classes per week. I'm willing to commute to Annecy or even Grenoble but trying to find some that aren't crazy expensive isn't easy. Do you have any ideas? I'm running out of steam. :-P
Hey Nichole I was just on your blog and you were here, that's funny (unless you ran right over after I commented !). I'll e-mail you with some ideas. There are French classes in Thonon in fact. Not very many people know about the program but it's in centre ville and that might work (seems like a lame little program though which mixes a wide ange of levels...). The language school in Annecy is pretty expensive but it's a daily program like a job! It's like 9-5 so I'm not sure if you'd be able to work. If you want to know more about that though contact emily who commented above because she goes there (small world!)
hola chicka! you will do fine once you are there, being there will help. i heard that if you pretend that you are acting out a part when you speak another language, like pick a favorite spanish actress to emulate-- that your brain stores it in a special folder so it doesnt get lumped into the language bin. that way you will be able to access it easier and remember it all. so you will have a french actress for french and a spanish one for spanish and your husband will have one saucy wife ;)
You mean all of us expats don't just stay here for almost 20 years?
How exciting for you -- it's strange to think you won't be a French expat anymore! I'll have to keep up more on your blog -- big changes are afoot!
Don't worry Betty we'll be back! It's just a three year assignment. We still own our home here in France.
You sound like you are well on your way to being fluent in Spanish! =o)
I am hardly even bilingual, and you are going to be trilingual. I'm so jealous!
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