Learning Spanish

To (actual) Mexico from (Used-to-be) Mexico

March 7, 2023March 10, 2023 First Person ForeignCompany

April 26, 2022: Just like with anything, anywhere, the more you learn, the less you know. The same can be said of languages, countries and, well, life itself. I like to travel because it reminds[…]

Year Two Like a Mango

March 24, 2018March 24, 2018 First Person ForeignGuatemala

Mango pits dusted the February pueblo streets: dotting my daily route with off-white pits decorated by stringy remains. One day in January there are no mangos and the next day there are mango pits everywhere[…]

Learning a Language | Half of sentences…

May 13, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

When I met Training Host Mom Rosa Maria, she was very patient and spoke slowly. I told her Spanish was ‘difícil’ for me before I knew the phrase “me cuesta.” And she told me “pero[…]

Learning a Language | Coming Back to Spanish (Throwback)

April 12, 2017 First Person ForeignBeauty

In high school I was awarded “Excellence in Spanish II” sophomore year followed by “Most Enthusiastic in Spanish III” junior year. I think Excellence meant highest grade and Most Enthusiastic meant Pain in the Cheeks. Mrs. Sweeney[…]

Me Cuesta | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

April 5, 2017April 10, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

November 24, 2016: We stood in a circle on the grass as our boss passed out classic manila folders. We were celebrating Thanksgiving Day in the cocoon of the well-manicured office. Like it was a medical[…]

Learning a Language | Pilgrim’s Progress Installment 1

February 8, 2017February 8, 2017 First Person ForeignBeauty

Characters: Abuelita/Clara (Host Grandmother), Rosario/Chaya/Doña Rosario/DoRo (Host Mom), and La Clarita/Clara (Host Sister) Here I sit in my sunny apartment in Santa Clara. I’m learning that language isn’t perfect, it’s never perfect even when you’re[…]