September 2009 - Posts
I just realized that I've forgotten all about you!
I've been so absorbed in learning to speak Spanish, helping the kids with school, and working, that I forgot all about blogging!
Hmmm...The good thing is that I have such a routine life that not much has happened since I last blogged. I'm somewhere between 60-70% of the way to being conversationally fluent in Spanish. I've reached the point now where I can say most of the things I need to say, and I can read a lot of Spanish. The slowest piece to come is understanding native speakers when they are conversing at a natural speed. I can pick out words and get the context, but a lot of it is still lost on me when people are speaking too fast.
So far I've managed to get a good grasp of present, past (preterit) and future verb tenses. It has been really helpful, conversationally, expanding beyond present tense only. I've dabbled a bit in the conditional tense, as well. I've been avoiding reflexive verbs (ie. I get myself up out of bed), stem changing verbs (the spelling of the root changes when you conjugate them) and pluperfect tenses (ie. I had already gone) because they aren't as easy to learn. Once I roll up my sleeves and get down to business, I know I'll learn it eventually. One of the things I didn't bargain for is that to really learn a language right, there's really no getting around learning correct grammar.
While I'm at it, I might as well throw in a word of the day
poderoso - mighty, powerful
El presidente es un hombre muy poderoso.
The president is a very powerful man.
One week from today until I visit my mom and dad! I can't wait to see them...
chaleco - vest
Lleva un chaleco salvavidas.
She's wearing a life vest.
Today was one of the best days of my life. I can't really say why on the internet. I love being a happy person.
periodista - journalist
Su hermana es periodista.
His sister is a journalist.
pájaro - bird
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Yesterday I went to the local Farmer's Market with Caroline. It's about 15 or 20 minutes from where I live.
I ended up buying some local honey and home made preserves (apple cinnamon, blackberry jam and hot pepper jelly) as well as a variety of veggies. I bought some bean sprouts and snow peas so I can make a stir fry this weekend, and I bought some carrots, strawberries and green leaf lettuce for our beardie. Some of the prices are at least half of what you'd pay at the grocery store, and it hasn't been picked unripe and sent on a cross-country road trip.
The fresh veggies were a big hit with the beardie. He seems to love green leaf lettuce and carrots the best, as well as the strawberries. I can feed him by hand and he takes it right out of my fingers.
This morning I made chocolate pancakes for breakfast for Justin and I had a nice cup of tea, some toast with cinnamon apple jelly, and a yogurt. I went to The Fresh Market yesterday and bought three new kinds of tea; cocoa chai, blackberry and orange pekoe. Yum.
Also, I booked my flight to Buffalo. I'm going to stay at my parents for a couple of days in October and I can't wait!!!
I have to get in the shower for church here shortly...Have a great labor day weekend!
cerro - hill
Desde ese cerro hay muy buena vista.
There's a very good view from that hill.
soltero - single (not married)
Ella es soltera.
She's single.