8/31/05 Málaga Spain

The trip wearing on me

Not much to report. Kind of a down day for me. Doreen and Dirk left this morning, so I have the apartment all to myself. But after all these weeks with roommates, it feels kind of empty. It's probably just the length of the trip wearing on me. Not in a good mood tonight either. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day.

Feral cats living on the shore

8/30/05 Málaga Spain

Empty beaches

Went into town to do some last minute shopping but still failed to find what I wanted. The Chambao CD is sold out and I probably won't buy any shoes. But I might go back tomorrow and look for some “books on CD” in Spanish if they have them.

Went out with Cameron for the last time. He flies back to England early in the morning. We both commented how the crowds have really thinned out on the boardwalk. Lots of empty tables at the bars and restaurants. And Gustavo, one of the street vendors hocking jewelery said most of his compatriots will be gone tomorrow. Even the beach was empty this afternoon.

Said goodbye to Cameron. I know we'll keep in touch.

My savior in the office, Blanca

8/29/05 Málaga Spain

It's just me and Katrin now

Class seemed so empty today without Gemma, Cheryl and Tomas. The first two hours, it was just Joanna and I for Ana's class. When Isa's class started, we had a new student, Katrin from Germany. She was a little nervous to be in our class because she has only been studying Spanish at home for 3 or 4 weeks just before coming here. She must have done real well on the exam but she says she doesn't have any practice listening or speaking. I told her that even Joanna and I have trouble understanding Isa because she talks so fast. [smile]

Katrin

The beach today was empty again, especially after being so crowded yesterday. Kind of cloudy at times. I wonder if that's a signal for a change of seasons.

Went out with Cameron for tapas. Tried a few places recommended by Ana but they were all closed. So, we just popped into whatever was open. Really good.

My new roommates Dirk & Doreen

8/28/05 Málaga Spain

Saying goodbye to Gemma & Cheryl

The sun is shinning but my heart just isn't at the beach today. Went by the girls' villa this afternoon to say goodbye. The four weeks since Gemma and Cheryl arrived have gone by so quickly. Like me though, they were more than ready to go home. Another sad goodbye but I still want to add Scotland to my list of future travels just to see them again.

A little silliness

Cheryl & Gemma

That leaves just a few of the summer crowd still at school. Josefine leaves Wednesday, Joanna Sunday, and Ida next Monday. Not sure what day Jimmy leaves but that's it. Definitely the end of summer.

8/27/05 Málaga Spain

Checking out another beach

Went into town today with the idea to buy some leather shoes or sandals but came home empty-handed. I'll try again because they're made here in Spain and very inexpensive.

For breakfast, stopped in a little cafe for a hot chocolate and churros, a kind of fried bread like donuts. The waiters sang out your order to the kitchen. Good but not sweet like I expected.

I loved the walks along the boardwalk

Ran into Cameron later, so we drove about 40-minutes up the coast, near Nerja, where someone had told him about this great secluded beach. Well, it being Saturday, it wasn't all that secluded but it was a great beach surrounded by cliffs.

Great beach

Said goodbye to Tomas and Jan. Sure hope I can keep in touch. Both are pretty cool guys.

8/26/05 Málaga Spain

Let's go to the movies

Kind of a blah day. I think every one was kind of sad because for a lot of friends, today was the last day of school. Gemma, Cheryl, Tomas and Jan are all leaving Sunday. They've all been here four weeks, so we've all kind of built this bond together. I'll miss them for sure.

Tomas, Cheryl, Joanna, Gemma

Finally, after all those weeks here, Ramón finally showed a Spanish comedy for our Friday film - “qi que sé” with Penelope Cruz. Pretty good, especially because the nerd
gets the the girl. A real happy ending. [smile]

Met Cameron later and we went to a Spanish theater. Here in Spain, you pick your seats for a movie like a concert. No just sitting everywhere. I'm told that some theaters even have ushers to show you to your seat. We saw 'Ninnette' but once the film started, I realized that it wouldn't have subtitles. I could understand most of the Spanish words but I wasn't fast enough to translate it in my head. That's ok because it was a comedy. Humor is usually universal, so I laughed at all the right places.

Later after dinner, I stopped by the girls place. They had another impromptu party going on. Besides the regular gang of Gemma, Cheryl, Tomas and Joanna. There was Jan, Ida and Josefine. One person I hadn't seen in a while was Ruska from the Chezk Republic. She was here when I first arrived but soon went home. She said she had come back for another two weeks of Spanish. A beautiful girl.

8/25/05 Málaga Spain

I can speak Spanish!

Finally met my new roommates Doreen and Dirk from Germany. Doreen worked in the Málaga ¡Sí! Office last winter and they are just here for a week-long holiday.

Went to the train station downtown and was able to get my ticket to Madrid, only using my Spanish. I didn't even ask if the teller spoke English. My Spanish just came out confidently. Yippie!

And Lance wins the Tour de France

8/24/05 Málaga Spain

Tapas

Took a long walk along the beach almost to the lighthouse towards the center of town. It's just amazing the beauty you see in all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes I reflect on why I am here. Basically, I want to communicate with people. Learning a language is one way to do that. But to learn the language is also a glimpse into the culture too. If you look at problems between people, whether that is between individuals or nations, it usually starts with a failure to communicate. Most of the misadventures on this trip have been both from my misunderstanding or me being misunderstood. The key though is to keep the avenue of communication open despite these problems, so that everyone might begin to understand. Yes, that's why I'm here.

Decided to join the school's excursion today even though I'd been on the tour before. Met Paulina (Sweden) who is a medical student taking a short break before her final, and toughest year in school. Ramón actually took us to a few churches I haven't seen. They were all open because rosary was being said. Just beautiful inside. Wish I had some pictures, but thought it would be rude to do so during services.

A beautiful church

Afterward we went to the teteria 'El Harem'. This time I had a milkshake instead of tea. Can't wait to get home and have a 'real' American milkshake.

Got home and my new roommates are asleep already. Hopefully I'll get to meet them tomorrow.

8/23/05 Málaga Spain

Only Tomas and I in class

An interesting day at school. On Monday nights every week, many of the Spanish language students meet at a bar on the boardwalk called 'La Tortuga'. I'm talking hundreds of college-age students. Well, a few of my classmates were there last night. So, today it was only Tomas and I in class. Ramón treated it as a semi-private lesson and we decided just to make our class time an open discussion in Spanish.

Spent part of the afternoon searching the internet for hostels in Madrid. They would definitely be called hotels in the the US. Sent emails to see if they have a room available. I'll be there two nights before I fly home.

The flower vendors always were colorful

Had a few drinks with Cameron. He doesn't really like his roommates in his new apartments at his new place. We just got along so well. You would swear we had been friends for a long time. We're going to try and get together on Friday for a movie and then try some tapas at a bar Ana highly recommends.

8/22/05 Málaga Spain

Summer is over

Had trouble remembering even my simple Spanish at class this Monday morning. I put it down to too much English spoken over the 3-day weekend. Hopefully, tomorrow it will
come back. [smile]

Went to the beach and got a different kind of shock. It was as if someone had evacuated the city. I'd guess there was only about 10% of the people I usually see on the beach. Guess that means that summer is over.

Talked to Ramón today and he says after everyone from the summer is gone, including me. The following Monday they have 24 new students scheduled to begin.

8/21/05 Málaga Spain

Chambao

Slept in a little bit because I went out with Cameron last night. I'm really going to miss him as a roommate.

Had a good day. Was able to squeeze in two run/workouts. Went to the beach for a bit today. Really, really hot, the kind of hot that makes it painful to walk on the sand. Didn't think much about it when no one was in the water, just thought it would cool me off. Was up to my chest in cold seawater when I noticed the first jelly fish. It was the size of a tennis ball with tentacles about eight inches long. I've never been stung by a jelly fish but I heard it is painful. So, I quickly turned around and tried to avoid all the rest of them in the calm water as I got out of the water.

Because you can get so high above the city, I decided to get a few pictures of the bullfight ring filled with people from above. Cameron later told me it was a sold out crowd (He was in the crowd). Just wish I had a longer telephoto lens.

Then took the bus to the 'Real' for more of the Feria. Just walked around a bit, especially in the carnival area. The kids sure were having fun. I was to meet Cameron at the front gate at 10:15.

Early Spanish driving lessons?

And at 10:15:55 exactly, there he was. We both wanted to see the concert and were not sure where it was. But lucky for us, it was right next to the front gate. It was so unobtrusive that we ended up almost to the front of the stage before the crowd realized the concert was to begin.

The fairground entrance

And what a great show. The group was called “Chambao” and they classify their music as 'chill out' flamenco. It's a local band that made it big. They have two drummers, a keyboard, two guitarists, and a guy who plays winds (clarinet, saxophone, flute). But the heart and soul of the band is the vocalist, Lamari. And luck for us, this is her first appearance since recovering from cancer. It certainly hasn't slowed her down. She sang so beautiful for a whole ninety minutes.

She could sing with so much passion

Cameron and I decided to see if we could get a better view from the back, only to realize that every available space was filled with a sea of people in this standing room only crowd. What a great final concert to close out the Feria.

At midnight, not a few seconds after the group took it's last bow, the fireworks started. A full twenty five minutes of one of the best fireworks displays that I've ever seen anywhere.

Cameron and I headed back towards the buses, ready to start the school week tomorrow. But amazingly there were two or three times as many people still arriving for one final night of party, as those leaving with us.

8/20/05 Málaga Spain

Shopping for books

Decided to go into town this morning and do some book shopping. Was looking for a good Spanish exercise book to take back home but didn't really find what I wanted. Then looked at the other books and decided to buy “The Little Prince” and “The Alchemist”, two classics.

Ended up staying in the city center to watch all the Feria activities for the little kids. They set up a very simple play area along the Paseo de Parque complete with all sorts of people dressed up solely for the kids. Gets them in the Feria spirit.

Lots of crafts for the kids

And physical activities too.

Not sure where the rest of the day went. Was with Cheryl, Gemma, Joanna and Ida at the beach. Then went for a run and did a little workout. I'm thinking I've been pretty lazy here both with my exercise and diet. I've got three weeks to shape up.

8/19/05 Málaga Spain

To the Feria!!!

Definitely the cloudiest day this summer but it usually gets sunny after lunch.

Just for something different, Eva and I joined Cameron on another beach hunting expedition up the coast. Nice quiet beaches but the sun refused to shine. We had lunch in “Toure del Mar” and checked out their beaches too. And believe it or not, it started to sprinkle. It was nice anyway just to lie there and not have to worry about a sun burn.

Today is Eva's last day in Málaga. She goes to Madrid for a few days, then back to Vienna. A really nice girl. And she said Vienna isn't so far from Switzerland and Italy, so if I visit friends there, I might as well include Austria. That would be great.So many people!

About 10pm a bunch of us from school took the bus to the Feria. The city has set up a huge complex on the other side of town for this party that's been celebrated since 1887. On that first year, it was to celebrate the 400 the anniversary of the Reconquest of Spain. And the people of Málaga have been partying ever since then.

One of the symbols of Málaga

Nothing I've been to in the US could have prepared me for what I saw. Imagine a basketball court-size hall with a bar, kitchen, tables and chairs, and a stage and dance floor filled with people eating, drinking and dancing to live music. Now, imagine a street with 300 of those halls side-by-side. Even though most 'casetas' were filled with people, the streets were full too. And all this doesn't even include the huge fairgrounds next door with all it's amusement park rides.

The Spanish language students in the cities many schools had a special invitation to the Tourism Board's caseta, where we were given free drinks and tapas while we waited for a flamenco concert to begin. The music was provided by a guitarist, a singer and a box percussionist. And they were joined by a flamenco dance troupe. What a great concert. The dancers even pulled people out of the audience to dance with them. The crowd went wild after they a little old lady began to show them that she learned a thing or two about dancing in her youth.

Cameron, Jan & Tomas enjoying the festivities

May I have another?

Paulina

Lanka

Cameron

Showing the youngsters a thing or two about dancing

After the concert was over, Eva, Cameron and I tried to take in this 'chaos' of a party. Here it was 2am and it looked like the festivities were just beginning. We stopped in a few more casetas. Some had more of a happy wedding reception feel with whole families shaking it up on the dance floor. While others definitely attracted a younger crowd with 'house' music.

When Cameron had been here in Málaga ten years ago, he had also gone to that Feria. So he wasn't too enthusiastic about coming tonight. We all expected to make an appearance, then go home early. Cameron walked around in stunned shock at the differences. But the huge grin on his face and the fact that we stayed so late told us it was a huge success.

8/18/05 Málaga Spain

Poor Blanca

More changes today. Cameron is actually studying at another school, and like Ingrid, he has to move this weekend. He tried to work something out because we really do get along so well but it just didn't happen. Kind of sad with the girls are moving out too. It just won't be the same without them.

I had planned on going back to Almansa to visit Amparo and Santi again but looks like they're going to be in London part of that time. And I was planning on staying a week in Madrid with my friends Sonia and Cesar but yesterday I got an email saying that they will be on a two-week vacation with family. They can come back for a couple of days, so that's what I'll do. That means two more weeks here in Málaga. Poor Blanca, seems every week, I'm coming in the office asking for changes. She's already changed the invoice twice for me already.

The weird part will be that I'll be the very last of the summer students to leave. Even all the Swedish girls that have been here all summer will leave the week before me. I'll miss them all.

Women in their Feria finery

Dancin' in the streets

8/17/05 Málaga Spain

I can now read Don Quijote

Started running again, and after a few days, I'm feeling pretty good. But I'm keeping the mileage pretty low. I think I need to start loosing some weight too to lessen the impact on the knees. Might even try running on the beach sand instead of the boardwalk.

Finally found a good copy of Don Quijote to take home. Even though the story is required reading for every Spanish grade school, to actually read the original takes a scholar's tenacity working through the words no longer used 400 years later. While trying to read the first copy of the book I bought, four words in the first sentence were not even in the dictionary. I bought the newer version at “Idiomas” a foreign language bookshop in El Centro. It's a abbreviated modern version, with facing pages in Spanish and English. So, I might actually get to read the entire book in Spanish.

My classmates Cheryl, Gemma, and Peter

Best friends!

More celebrating the Faria

8/16/05 Málaga Spain

Hanging out with a guy for a change

The girls were out late last night or should I say early this morning. But they still made it to class this morning. Ah, the stamina of youth.

The beach where I spend most of my afternoons

Later that night, Cameron and I went out for something to eat. It's great to hang out with a guy for a change. I think by evening's end, we had solved not only our own relationship problems, but quite a few of the world's problems too. [smile]

8/15/05 Málaga Spain

A very cool new roommate

Very unexpectedly, we got a new roommate. Cameron is a school teacher from England. He teaches Spanish at a private school for high school age kids. He got a grant to come down here to brush up on his Spanish. He said he actually lived here in Málaga ten yeas ago when he was doing his “year abroad”.

A busy day on the boardwalk

Since this was like a working vacation, he also rented a car. Amazing how much more flexible life can be with transportation. We ended up driving up the coast about thirty minutes and finding a beach with hardly anyone on it. A very relaxing afternoon.

8/14/05 Málaga Spain

It's so different here

Actually got to run and workout this morning. The knee wasn't bad but hen I only ran a mile. I think I'll try and build it slow because I really do need the exercise and can't really afford another injury.

The beach downtown

Even though I seem to have misadventures on every trip, I do learn from them. When I first envisioned this trip, I imagined being in Almansa, getting to know the neighbors, shopping at the market and having and evening drink at the cafe down the street. I didn't even consider that Málaga would be quite different, except for the beach. So, while eight weeks in Almansa would have been ideal (especially if I had come in May as originally planned), four weeks would have been ok here. I mean it's nice but it's so touristy, shopping at the supermarket, searching dozens of restaurants for an open table and going to the beach every is just something to do. Ah well, I hope I learned from it.

Cleaning up

So let's see how that might affect my future plans. Still can't decide on three weeks or six in New Zealand. Looking at a separate trip to Italy to see Marta. I'm trying to talk her into letting me work in her family restaurant in exchange for Italian lessons. I have to talk to Daniel and Ariane in Switzerland about a trip there next year. And now I want to add a trip to Sweden. Plus, there is so much to see in Spain but I think Springtime would be an infinitely better time to come.

8/13/05 Málaga Spain

Paseo del Parque

I had a few errands to run downtown but also wanted to check out the festivities too. After going to the post office, was happy to see a huge parade of horsemen and carriages in very traditional Spanish outfits along the Paseo del Parque.

Because I've been feeling the need for more exercise since I stopped the marathon training, I wanted to walk down and back instead of taking the bus. Got back just in time to send out my eNewsletter. Then met Ingrid on the beach. She's going home to Belgium tomorrow. Even though we only spent a week as roommates, we had a good connection. I think we'll be able to keep in touch for years to come.

8/12/05 Málaga Spain

Getting ready for Feria

We had a test this morning, but only to give the teachers an idea where we were at, and where we needed more work.

Everyone seemed reserved today. Not sure why, but it could be our bodies natural 'preventative maintenance' with the Feria starting tonight and going for the next 10 days.

Spent the afternoon at the beach with Eva (Austria). She's an economics major but she was also a competitive swimmer. You can definitely tell she's still in great shape. She's in the advanced class at school.

Gemma gave me the bad news today: They're moving out next week to go share a flat with Joanna. I'm happy for their. It makes good sense. When they thought I was moving out to go live with a host family, they found out Patrico and Gaia would be leaving after the weekend. Since they'd really been having a lot of fun with Joanna and spending so much time over there, they asked Blanca at school if it was OK. That was all before I decided not to move in with that family. Guess I'll just have to bother them a lot at the 'villa'. And who knows, I might get another roommate.

About 11pm, headed to El Centro fro the opening day fireworks. I decided to climb above the city to Gibralfaro, but I shouldn't have been surprised the hundreds of others who had the same idea. I sat next to a father and his two children. His daughter, who might have been four or five years old, was extremely impatient for the fireworks to begin. Even though it was supposed to start at midnight, I should have realized that in Spain, times like that are 'flexible'. Unfortunately the little girl hasn't really come to grips with that part of her culture yet, so she began to cry until the first bang overhead at about 12:30.

Actually a pretty long fireworks display. The bad thing about digital cameras is that it seems like you take a million photographs. After they finally stopped, I looked down and had taken about 135 pictures. Wow!

Afterward, I felt like a fish swimming upstream as I headed toward the beach where a million other people were leaving. Ended walking home about 2am.

8/11/05 Málaga Spain

Málaga vs Oxford & Cambridge

This evening, I went down to the harbor to watch the 1st Annual 'Regata Internacional de Remo' pitting Málaga against Oxford and Cambridge in 8-man crews. They also had a few 4-man women crews rowing from Málaga and Sevilla too. There was a long delay so I only stayed for the first heat which Oxford won by 1 meter. And the paper reported that Málaga must have really put on the steam in the next heat because they won by 6-seconds.

The newspaper reported Málaga won 2 out of 3

8/10/05 Málaga Spain

Not moving!

Didn't sleep well last night because I kept thinking of this situation with my host family. Finally I decided to talk to Blanca again. I thought she would be mad or upset, but all she said was “no problem.” So, the girls are stuck with me for two more weeks. [smile]

Gemma & Cheryl were too much fun

8/9/05 Málaga Spain

House with the shadow

Sometimes I think I have such bad luck. Today was a case in point.

Took a week off my running schedule to see if I could get the knee healed up. Got up early to do a short 3-mile run, but stopped at barely a mile when the pain started to come back. Guess the marathon is off. I was cutting it pretty short with the training schedule anyway. So, with more than a week off, there's no way I'd be prepared.

Class was good. It's such a joy to actual 'know' some of the answers. After class, Blanca gave me the info on the family I'm staying with for the next two weeks. It's a couple my age with two girls, ages 19 and 24. But when I mentioned it to a few classmates who've been here all summer, they said the husband was dying of cancer. When I asked Blanca about it, she said it was true but that she didn't think he was that sick.

Seems as if cancer keeps happening around me. A few years ago, I was a full-time care giver for my uncle who eventually died of a brain tumor. Because I had just returned from a long trip, and my healthcare experience, the family convinced e to volunteer. I spent 24 hours a day 7 days a week with him. I wouldn't trade that time for anything but I don't think anyone realizes what a difficult experience that was. I came back home a few days after he died.

Then recently, I met a very special woman and we had a wonderful budding relationship when, suddenly, her father was diagnosed with cancer and only had two months to live. That was four months ago and I haven't seen or talked to her in two months.

Now this. Here I was expecting to be in a house where the folks were looking for a little cultural exchange. Instead, I can't stop imagining moving into a house with the shadow of cancer over the whole family. I mean he is only two years older than me. If I demand other accommodations, I insult the family and possibly take money away from them that they might need. Blanca asked me to at least try it for a few days. But if I decide it's still not working out, I would still feel like I'm slapping them in the face. My experience in Spain keeps getting me down, or at least it feels that way to me.

8/8/05 Málaga Spain

I'm just in the middle of this group

Started today with my new class. There's Gemma and Cheryl, my roommates, Joanna (Sweden), Tomas (Czech Republic), Jimmy (Sweden), Lanka (Czech Republic) and Peter (England). My teachers this week are Isa and Ramón. Even though I was in a higher class before, I feel I'm just in the middle of this group. Tomas and Lanka definitely have more Spanish than the rest of us. So, I feel I'm where I'll learn the most.

Saw this lonely boat near the beach

8/7/05 Granada Spain

Day trip to Granada

Not sure what I'm expecting, at the meeting place for the bus to Granada, but it certainly wasn't the 250 Spanish language students all waiting to get on the five buses. Most of the kids on my bus were from Germany, including one blind girl. Took about an hour and a half to get to Granada from Málaga. Our bus/group leader was Daniel, who tried to explain everything in Spanish first, then sometimes translated it in English. The ride was totally in the mountains. If I understand correctly, the second highest mountain in Spain is near Granada. It had the furthest south ski slope in Europe. A new airport was built to handle the increase in tourists. But in the last few years, it has stopped snowing on the mountain. Looks as if Spain is slowly becoming the next Sahara. Global warming again.

Granada

We started with a walking tour of 'Albaicin', the old Jewish quarter of the city. Then we headed toward the city center. They gave us about 90 minutes of free time to wander the narrow side streets and maybe get something to eat. But always, above the city, you see 'Alhambra'.

Our guide tells us that Alhambra was a palace, a citadel, a fortress and home of the Nasrid sultans from the 13th to 15th century. Difficult to describe where we went, but first was the gardens. Just amazing, even in this heat. You could spend a few days here. The amazing thing is how all this 'Moorish' architecture survived after the reconquest of Spain by the Christian armies of Rome.

The only bad part about the day was the heat. The temps were hovering around 45°C (113°F). Add to that walking all day outside, and you're describing a miserable day. I would love to come back some day and see the place at dawn.

The highlight was the visit to the Nasrid Palace. It was so beautiful. You could just imagine Muslim men resting in the shade of the courtyards discussing religion or relations with the Christians and Jews of the city below. But it was a whirlwind tour with thousands of people on the grounds. Alhambra is a national treasure of Spain. Even President Bill Clinton has been here.

Lots of fountains

The Nasrid Palace

Just amazing!

8/6/05 Málaga Spain

A casual “do not do much” kind of day

Spent a lot of time at the beach today. Some alone, some with Gemma and Chery, and then some time with Monika. Definitely feels better when you're with someone at least some of the time.

Basically a casual “do not do much” kind of day. Checked my email and sent out the eNewsletter, studied a bit and later went out with the girls and Joanna for dinner. And ended the day with a stroll on the boardwalk. At the apartment, we told stories. I think the girls were still a bit tired from their escapades from Friday night. Well, off to bed for me, got an early bus tomorrow for Granada.

Saw this cool scooter

8/5/05 Málaga Spain

Been thinking of options

The girls were a wee bit tired this morning. When they couldn't sleep last night, they stood at their balcony and yelled down at all the boys who walked past. Just a bunch of giggling school girls. But then 2am came pretty early for them.

Put in a lot of hours on the homework and still was having trouble with the material we went over earlier this week. I hope Ana knows how hard I've been trying. She stopped to help me on her lunch break and tried to tell me not to work so hard on the grammar. She says talking is more important at this point. She said Ramón wanted to talk to me when I got a chance.

Ramón waits for Patricio to answer

It was with a sigh of great relief that Ramón let me choose whether to stay in my current class or to move down a level. It will be going over the same material I've covered in the last five weeks, but I think that will be good for me. I would rather have a good foundation to build on. Plus, I hope this builds my confidence in my conversational skills – that's my weakest area, and what I really need for work back at the hospital.

I have been thinking of options for the end of the trip. I want to see my friend Isaac in Barcelona, but also thinking of taking an extra week here. And for a little more tuition, I could get an hour of one-on-one tutoring with the teachers every day. Everyone thinks I'm this great traveler, but I like a comfort zone just like anyone else, and that includes being able to communicate.

Jan and Tomas taking the girls out dancing

8/4/05 Málaga Spain

But I still want to speak Spanish

Didn't feel great this morning. I think the stress of class is leading me to eat more and drink too much.

Before class, Ana asked me a question. I knew most of the words but just guess at the whole meaning. I said “yes” but then she told me the question needed a “good” or “bad” answewr. Clearly my listening and speaking skills are terrible – certainly not up the 'intermediate' standard. I panic every time I think they're going to call on me first in class. If it's someone else, I can usually figure out what we're trying to answer. I'll try and talk to Ana or ask Ramón to talk to her about how I'm doing.

I have three more weeks from next Monday, and I don't want to be stressed out the whole time. Especially since the last two weeks I'll be living with a family. I'm almost ready to quit but I still want to speak Spanish.

At this point I would only recommend an immersion course for those who can carry on simple conversation or have had several years of Spanish in high school or college recently. For beginners or those with only basic knowledge, it's too much material too fast. Immersion is better at perfecting the language skills you already have.

Spanish night at the school

My roommates Gemma and Cheryl

Heard from Isaac in Barcelona. I asked if I could visit at the end of August and beginning of September. We'll see.