A new person joined the class today. She was supposed to sit in for half an hour, but ended staying for the full three hours. It was interesting how her presence changed the dynamic of the classroom. I quite like my other classmate, let us call her the Breaker of Chains, but also definitely resented […]
Waking, sleeping
After a couple of slightly down days, when my Spanish didn’t feel like it was going particularly well, and at work the piano seemed to rise higher overhead, and it was difficult to concentrate, today was a little better. For one, I spoke to the Gentleman Friend briefly, which cheered me up. Last night I […]
Older woman
It is strange to be in the position of being the older woman in a group of younger people. All the others here are college students, and of course stay together and don’t have much to say to, or interest in, someone who is clearly not one of them. So we sit at the breakfast […]
Higher level beginner
This is where my teacher placed me today, as nearly imtermediate level but not quite there. OK, I suppose, given that I didn’t really speak a word of the language until three weeks and a couple of days ago. I think I would have been more advanced had I not been working, and been better […]
Miniso, to my shame
Yesterday, I went and got a few bits and pieces for my room, including a cushion from Miniso as there is nowhere to sit in my room other than a rickety chair, and there is a lot of floor. I also bought a spoon for my avocado dinners. Then today I went again, intending to […]
Moved out
I moved out of the flat this morning and took a taxi to the homestay. This is a bright blue building, very easy to find, just up the hill from one of the prettiest parts of the town. It’s on a big road which can get noisy, but my room is at the back of […]
Alone in Oaxaca
The following day my class was a little better and less discouraging. I did a spot of memorising, and have most of the prepositions somewhere in my brain if not always readily accessible. This was overshadowed by the GF’s departure as he left for his nearly-month long travels to New Zealand for a conference. The […]
Dream home
This morning, or rather afternoon, we caught a colectivo to San Augustin Etla. By morning I mean afternoon, but it was the first thing we did this Sunday after brunching. By catching a colectivo I mean we stumbled around in the general area where the colectivos left from until we were shoved into a taxi […]
Long day
Yesterday I had a second class with the new teacher and while she is very sweet and also very good, spoke to the owner of the school that I’d prefer to return to the old teacher. At the time she said yes certainly, though we will see what happens. I was then up late at […]
Back to school, redux
Woke early, had a leisurely breakfast and then walked the 2 minutes to my Spanish lesson. It is on the same street, conveniently close by, and is located in a small house overseen by a rather flustered but kindly woman and a handful of teachers. There were three other students at the school, luckily all […]