Spanish Lessons for Carol

 

Monday

Hola, amigos!

I haven’t heard anything out of Jack since he and Bud left on Friday, but he told me that they probably wouldn’t have cell service for a few days. It’s weird not to talk to him for this long, since we usually call each other every night when we’re apart. I hope they’re catching lots of trout!
I have work to do today; I’ve finished up one book editing job and now have two more to do. The one I’m starting is on criminal justice—crisis negotiations. Cindy and Tom are both at work so the house is quiet and conducive to working. Before starting work, I go out for a walk, since I want to continue with the daily exercise we’ve been doing since we came here. Another beautiful day in southern California! (Are y’all getting tired of hearing that yet??)

Another beautiful day for a walk.

I also am starting 5 days of Spanish lessons this afternoon at The Spanish Institute, which is just 2 miles down the coast in Carlsbad. I had several years of Spanish in high school and college, but I’ve lost most of my vocabulary and verb conjugations and want to get them back. My teacher, Anamaria, is a young woman originally from Colombia, South America but now living in the U.S. with her husband.

I leave the house at 3:30 pm to get to the class, and arrive early, since it only takes about 7 or 8 minutes to get there. I always worry about unexpected traffic around here, but things were pretty calm on the roads.  I found the building easily with the help of my trusty GPS.

Building where I'm taking Spanish lessons from Anamaria.

 

Inside I’m warmly greeted by Anamaria, who’s an attractive, friendly and energetic person. It’s fun working with her and to my surprise I can understand about 80% of what she says in Spanish. (Of course, I’m sure she’s slowing WAY down for me…) I brushed up a little bit before today’s lesson so I don’t feel too lost. I’m getting excited about being able to comprehend and speak the language better. (However, I listened to a Mexican radio station while driving back to Cindy’s after class, and could only understand about every tenth word they said! This may take some time…)

İHasta mañana!

Bird species count: Vermilion flycatcher, turkey vulture, Bell’s vireo, *golden-fronted woodpecker, Say’s phoebe, northern cardinal, greater roadrunner, house finch, common raven, *northern rough-winged swallow, *summer tanager, *prothonotary warbler, *yellow-breasted chat, *yellow-rumped warbler, northern mockingbird, mourning dove, cliff swallow, Mexican jay, black-headed grosbeak, black-chinned  hummingbird, Wilson’s warbler, *Scott’s oriole, chipping sparrow, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, black-crested titmouse, acorn woodpecker, scrub jay, *western kingbird, white-winged dove, *canyon towhee, *Grace’s warbler, *zone-tailed hawk, *curve-billed thrasher, Bullock’s oriole, Gambel’s quail, great horned owl, black-throated sparrow, *cactus wren, ladder-backed woodpecker, white-crowned sparrow, brownheaded cowbird, Brewer’s blackbird, *pyrrhuloxia, hooded oriole, verdin, crow, Anna’s hummingbird, dark-eyed junco, white-throated swift, Steller’s jay, mallard, common egret, brown pelican, western bluebird

State count: 11 [Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California]