Friday, December 9, 2011
CONTINUO ESPANOL
Well, my first semester of Spanish is coming to an end with my final exam on Dec 15th. After 7 weeks of immersion classes in Spain I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and didn't know if I truly learned much. But taking this class in the States with a Costa Rican Professor that teaches in English has really really helped. I now understand many things I didn't in Spain. It's not over though I begin again in January and will continue in the summer where I hope all of my education in Spanish will be enough for my walk on the Santiago de Campostela in Spain,, Oct 2012. Yes, I plan to walk for 30-45 days from the North of Spain to the South. It's an adventure I can't even imagine where it will take me spiritually. I just know even thinking if the sights I will see, the food I will eat and the people I will meet on this walk... makes me SMILE!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hey friends! You know Damien and I have gone for the past 3 years to Joshua Tree. It's happening again this coming October. If you love outdoor music festivals, you will love this one and if you've never been then this should be your first. Believe me you'll be addicted.
Joshua Tree is a beautiful, spiritual, artistic and musical place. People from all over gather for this 2 day festival to just enjoy each others spirits sharing the desert, music, food, laughs, art and much much much more. Each year we make new friends and those friends continue to be in our lives.
For more info about the festival:
www.joshuatreemusicfesitva
Peace, Love, Dove, Desert!
Monday, August 29, 2011
DIANA..YOU'RE NOT IN SPAIN ANY LONGER!!!
It still is hard to believe that my trip to Spain, England and Ireland is in the past. Feels like it was just yesterday I was nervous, crying and scared to go. Now it's time to plan another adventure and return to Spain to walk the Santiago de Compostela, spend more time with my cousins in England and much much more Ireland next summer. Oh yes!
Meanwhile I am continuing my Spanish lessons at City College in SF on Thursday nights. Some day I'll be able to converse in Spanish with ease.
Life....it's there to enjoy! So do it!
Peace
Meanwhile I am continuing my Spanish lessons at City College in SF on Thursday nights. Some day I'll be able to converse in Spanish with ease.
Life....it's there to enjoy! So do it!
Peace
Thursday, July 21, 2011
HASTA LUEGO SALAMANCA! CARRASCO WAS HERE!
Just lying here in bed on my last night in Salamanca and thinking of the things I will miss.. Carmen my wonderful, beautiful spirited new friend, walking the streets every day to and from school just feeling the peaceful spirit of the Spanish people, the smiles, aromas, the older people hand in hand sitting or walking through the parks every evening, the old men making that kissing sound to flirt with me as they walked by, the hundreds of young students that fill the streets speaking their newly learned language with each other, the vino blanco, rosado y tinto, pinchos, tapas, jamon iberico, bocadillos, the cafe bars every 20 feet, the big beautiful parks in every neighborhood and right now as I lie here I hear, see and feel the thing I will miss each night......the warm air through my open window, the starry night sky I've seen two full moons in and the children with their parents and grandparents playing in the park nearby until midnight or later. It's just so beautiful the way they live their lives here enjoying each and every day with much ... paz y amor.
Hasta luego Salamanca!
oxoxo
Paz y Amor
CARRASCO WAS HERE!
Hasta luego Salamanca!
oxoxo
Paz y Amor
CARRASCO WAS HERE!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
YOU ES HEEPEE FROM CALIFORNIA....SI?
Many times in class we just talk and share our lives. It's another way of learning and practicing Spanish. I'm usually talking about volunteering, music festivals, rock n roll and the 'green' world of California. Most the kids from Amsterdam are very inquisitive about the 'greenery' in California as I am about the 'green' in Amsterdam. It's amazing the open conversations we can have in class. I found out that same sex marriage in Spain has been legal since 2005. Just amazing....how can a world so full of "Catolics" do it but most of the U.S. can't? What a strange world we live in and on my friends.
I am down to only two days of classes left. I have learned so much grammar it's truly amazing. But don't expect me to be speaking Spanish with great ease when I return home. I have much much more to learn and many years of practice. I will continue at City College and am also trying to find a discussion/conversation group to practice with. I am also fortunate to have many Spanish speaking friends that have offered to help me. How wonderful is that? I'd say by next summer I should be speaking pretty damn good...bad grammar still, but pretty damn good. They say it takes years to truly learn Spanish grammar and speak fluently. I know now they speak the truth.
I will miss the people I have met here both in and out of school. Classes are tough but I do love the interaction and the learning. But it's time for this school girl to see her man and get her party on for a few weeks then get home to begin the process of preparing for more adventures. Maybe this path I've taken will lead me to South America where I can teach English??? Hmmm? I am definitely going to look into that possiblity when I return.
In class we had to write about our goals and dreams in Spanish...and I wrote all of the above. My life in California, my continued education in the Spanish language, my dream of working for a non-profit that helps the homeless, my dream of having a 'green' bakery and my dream of someday being an English teacher in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay etc. etc etc?? My little part of this world is definitely a blank canvas right now and I am a first time painter.....what shall I paint?
After I read my little life out loud this is what the Profesora said "You es heepee from California, si?"
Paz y Amor
I am down to only two days of classes left. I have learned so much grammar it's truly amazing. But don't expect me to be speaking Spanish with great ease when I return home. I have much much more to learn and many years of practice. I will continue at City College and am also trying to find a discussion/conversation group to practice with. I am also fortunate to have many Spanish speaking friends that have offered to help me. How wonderful is that? I'd say by next summer I should be speaking pretty damn good...bad grammar still, but pretty damn good. They say it takes years to truly learn Spanish grammar and speak fluently. I know now they speak the truth.
I will miss the people I have met here both in and out of school. Classes are tough but I do love the interaction and the learning. But it's time for this school girl to see her man and get her party on for a few weeks then get home to begin the process of preparing for more adventures. Maybe this path I've taken will lead me to South America where I can teach English??? Hmmm? I am definitely going to look into that possiblity when I return.
In class we had to write about our goals and dreams in Spanish...and I wrote all of the above. My life in California, my continued education in the Spanish language, my dream of working for a non-profit that helps the homeless, my dream of having a 'green' bakery and my dream of someday being an English teacher in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay etc. etc etc?? My little part of this world is definitely a blank canvas right now and I am a first time painter.....what shall I paint?
After I read my little life out loud this is what the Profesora said "You es heepee from California, si?"
Paz y Amor
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
ALCOHOL IGUAL HABLAS ESPANOL? SI!!
Ok...I have said in class several times "If I could only have a glass of wine or a shot of whiskey I'd relax" but ..NO!
So...after class I came home to study and then I took a walk down to the nearest (believe me there are at least 6 near me) bar y cafe for a drink. Today I went to Cafe Devino (cerca mi casa) near my home for whiskey!! It was quiet outside at 6:30 because it was raining. I sat down and ordered a my whiskey. It was just me outside under the awning enjoying the warm rain and my Jack Daniels on the rocks. I love my American whiskey and there's usually only two choices here..JD or J&B. Oh and you don't say J&B...it's hota y beh (spelled as pronounced). I found Jim Beam once when I first arrived. Anyway, since it was just me I asked the waiter his name. His name is Julian (hooleean) and he's the 'dueno' (dwenyo) owner. What a wonderful two hours and two whiskeys I just had. As he cleaned the tables, swept the streets and tended to his indoor bar he stopped to talk to me often. How fun to practice the little bit of Spanish I know and to feel comfortable doing it. I don't speak much in class because I get nervous and forget all I know in that atmosphere but outside with the people of Spain I feel very comfortable. And as Julian put it...'Diana, mucho bebidas de alcohol igual hablar espanol'. LOL...so true. Julian suggested I come by in the morning for a 'pequeno' (small) shot of alcohol before class. Hmmm? I may do that my friends..really!! Either that or a Xanax..I have two left and 1/4 helps a long ways for me. I think I prefer the alcohol.
Hey, gotta go! Carmen just got home with her new pair of shoes to match her beautiful dress she bought last week. Perfecto! I will post photos of the 'bicho raro'!
I sure am going ot miss this place! And now I will be even more confused when people ask me where I am from......Dublin, SF, Ferndale, Boise or Salamanca?
Paz y Amor
xoxo
So...after class I came home to study and then I took a walk down to the nearest (believe me there are at least 6 near me) bar y cafe for a drink. Today I went to Cafe Devino (cerca mi casa) near my home for whiskey!! It was quiet outside at 6:30 because it was raining. I sat down and ordered a my whiskey. It was just me outside under the awning enjoying the warm rain and my Jack Daniels on the rocks. I love my American whiskey and there's usually only two choices here..JD or J&B. Oh and you don't say J&B...it's hota y beh (spelled as pronounced). I found Jim Beam once when I first arrived. Anyway, since it was just me I asked the waiter his name. His name is Julian (hooleean) and he's the 'dueno' (dwenyo) owner. What a wonderful two hours and two whiskeys I just had. As he cleaned the tables, swept the streets and tended to his indoor bar he stopped to talk to me often. How fun to practice the little bit of Spanish I know and to feel comfortable doing it. I don't speak much in class because I get nervous and forget all I know in that atmosphere but outside with the people of Spain I feel very comfortable. And as Julian put it...'Diana, mucho bebidas de alcohol igual hablar espanol'. LOL...so true. Julian suggested I come by in the morning for a 'pequeno' (small) shot of alcohol before class. Hmmm? I may do that my friends..really!! Either that or a Xanax..I have two left and 1/4 helps a long ways for me. I think I prefer the alcohol.
Hey, gotta go! Carmen just got home with her new pair of shoes to match her beautiful dress she bought last week. Perfecto! I will post photos of the 'bicho raro'!
I sure am going ot miss this place! And now I will be even more confused when people ask me where I am from......Dublin, SF, Ferndale, Boise or Salamanca?
Paz y Amor
xoxo
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