Week two

Well into week two, I'm finally learning verbs. It's tough stuff. We're learning a different verb tense each day... it's a lot of information all at once. But I hear we get to practice for the next two weeks.

I'm really enjoying myself. I love learning the language and I truly like this city. I feel fortunate because some of the students don't feel the same way. I lucked out with the right family and a good tutor.

Today I came down with a stomach bug. I'm sure it's from something I ate; and most of you warned me this would happen so I'm well prepared.

Here are a few photos from my recent trip to Uxmal, an amazing Mayan ruin about one hour south of Merida.

Hacienda Xcanatun

My host father Fernando took me here today and we got a personal tour of this gorgeous hacienda. Apparently it's very exclusive and amazing they let us in. Such a fantastic space!

Hacienda Xcanatun

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I'm blogging weekly at Aspen Public Radio.

You won't get quite as much detail here, but on days like today, I'm unlikely to blog in both places!

Numero Dos

That´s still about the extent of my Spanish language skills after two days here. Not exactly, but I´m still learning slowly. There are a lot of words to know -- and the big missing link are verbs. We beginners still haven´t learned verbs! I don´t understand how to converse without a properly conjugated verb, at least in the present tense...

Luckily everyone is very patient.

I´m in a class with three others, and it´s a good group. We all want to learn, but no one takes themselves too seriously.

We eat lunch at a cafeteria next door. It´s a restaurant opened by a couple a few years ago, and the school has set up for them to provide lunch. It´s delicious -- there are all kinds of fresh vegetables and meats with lovely spices.

I was surprised to learn that lunch is the important meal of the day here in Mexico. No one gathers for a formal dinner, in this host family or the others. It´s kind of disappointing because I hoped we would all sit down and talk (which is what happened when I lived in Paris) but not so. The family gathers at lunchtime on the weekdays, so I´m looking forward to the experience on the weekend.

This Sunday the group goes to Uxmal, site of some Mayan ruins. I befriended a couple of the other students (who are all my parents´age, I might add) and we´re talking about taking a couple other "excursions" together.

Day One

There`s a reason why they call this an intensive Spanish program.

Day one went well - but by the end of it, I was exhausted!

Fernando brought me to the school on an autobus -- these common VW
transit buses in town. He helped me walk from the bus stop to the
school, which was even more helpful than it sounds because there are
not actually bus stops in Merida. You just pick up and drop off more
or less wherever. I`m getting close to figuring out the system (there
is some order to the way it all works).

At orientation, I answered ¨no se¨ to all the placement test
questions... I think I know the least of anyone
here. But I feel I learned
quite a lot for one day -- the morning class focused on plural vs
singular and masculine vs feminine, also the alphabet which is
phonetically difficult. In the afternoon, Miguel took me around Merida
for the one-on-one. I think this is going to be the most valuable time
(as many of you told me!). He answered all my questions and was very
patient. It was sort of a relief after a morning of not understanding
almost three quarters of everything said.

Fernanda, the 18 year old daughter, picked me up from school. She
speaks English and clarified a few things I wasn`t sure of. After
dinner, Fernando took me to Centro Historica, where there was a
traditional dance until it got rained out; then he took me on a tour
of downtown.

Merida is a beautiful place. The people are just terrific. I love
being here so far!

I´m here!

After a long day of traveling, I´m finally in Merida.

I flew to Cancun direct from Denver. There were a lot of Spring Breakers on the plane -- mostly people in their early twenties and then families with kids around age 6 - 10. It seemed like an odd mix of people.

I flew on to Merida, and the only Americans on the plane were about my parents´age. It´s a nice change of pace after flying with a big group just ready to party.I met one fellow student when we landed, and I also met another Colorado resident who´s doing an immersion program that´s all arts based... learning Spanish via the arts, which seems pretty cool.

My host ¨dad¨ Fernando came to pick me up at the airport. We had a pretty funny and awkward drive home, since I speak no Spanish and he speaks very little English. He´s terrific -- he showed me around Merida, where there are lots of hospitals and a well regarded medical school. From what I could see after dark, it looks a lot like Los Angeles or even parts of Denver. I feel really good about the city.

Fernando made me a sandwich for dinner when we arrived. This is a terrific house. He lives here with his wife and two of his three children. I haven´t met the esposa Cecilia yet. I did meet Fernanda, the 18 year old daughter. She´s my neighbor with the bedroom next to mine. The house is two floors and covered in tile. It has large windows and is so well ventilated -- which is fantastic since it´s cool and crisp here. And crickets are chirping! It´s a real contrast to Colorado this time of year. Oh, and the house has a pool, which Fernando warned me is too cold for him, but I´m free to take my chances...

And perhaps one of the nicest surprises is Fernando will let me use his laptop, the Internet and Skype! I got to video chat with Mike, which is pretty fantastic.

Tomorrow I start school...

I'm at the airport and waiting to board the plane to Cancun. I'm glad the anticipation period is over... but it was hard to leave Mike.

Onwards to Mexico!