A great benefit about being a teacher is having the summer off. Before Isabel, I enjoyed being able to travel during the summer to keep my Spanish up to par. Being primarily a lower level language teacher, my vocabulary does not get stretched much. [Think Kindergarten teacher.] I have studied in Spain, Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Each experience was both exciting and a tad overwhelming at times. Let's face it... you get this Irish gringa in a room of native Spanish speakers for a graduate level class and...well, let's just say that it feels like my brain is about to explode. I have to actively think about everything that is being said (as opposed to passively tuning in as I do in my native language.) As mentally draining as these times were, I always came away so invigorated and energized about Spanish.
Being a single mom of a three year old means that I am no longer afforded the luxury of just taking off to another country for a month or two. As such, I was very excited that my district approved my request to attend the week-long College Board AP Institute for Spanish Language. It started today. My brain is completely fried. Eight hours straight of Spanish being spoken by women from Spain, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia. Of the 20 attendees, only three of us are not native Spanish speakers. My head is spinning...Ay Caramba!!!
Only four more days to go. Ojala que sobreviva.
1 comment:
You will survive. When I first moved to the US, my cheeks would literally hurt from speaking English and my brain felt like it was going to explode.
I really admire your efforts. Miss you and Isabel. We need to schedule a playdate.
Abraco
Madi
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