New Spanish Lessons

My new Spanish lessons are going pretty well. It's only my second day, but I like my teacher. He's a genius. The man knows 6 languages and plays 4 instruments. The classes are a lot better than the ones I was paying for. I'm reading some Spanish books by Peruvian authors. Pretty interesting stuff.

Tonight the Rotary Club vice president leaves for Canada for a month. She's pretty much the only one whom we're in constant contact with. After I go to say goodbye a group of exchange students are going to the movies for cheap movie night.

I have to go now because I have an English lesson to give in a half hour.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: media hora (meh dee uh or uh) (half hour)

Things Are About to Get Crazy

I took a second job at another English institute. I'm doing a language exchange with them. I teach two hours a day of English and in return I get two free hours a day of Spanish. I'm also going to have more classes starting Feb. 5 at Translex (my first institute). So three days a week I will have 12 hour days and two days a week I will have 4 hour days. Crazy.

My new debit card came today. So now I don't have to worry as much about money. I also get my Rotary allowance tomorrow. So I should be set for a while. February 11, Rotary is taking us on a trip to Lake Titicaca. I'm pretty excited about that.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: Ocupado (Oh coo pahd oh) (Busy)

A New Arrival

Today the new exchange student arrived from Australia. Her name is Georgia, and my friend Duncan and I picked her up with Rotary at the airport. Then we went to the Vice President's house and had breakfast. PANCAKES! It was delicious. After breakfast Rotary asked Duncan and I to show her the city and to help her get ahold of the airline to get her lost luggage.

This whole experience reminded me of when I got here. How nervious I was and how new everything was. And I remember getting here and having the previous exchange students speaking perfect Spanish. I was so jealous and wished I could have spoken like them. And then after awhile I became nervous that I wouldn't be able to speak Spanish like the could. But I've now been here the same length of time and I'm proud to say I can. I'm more than halfway through my exchange. I remember getting here and knowing the Australians only had 4 months and thinking it seemed so long. And the time flew. I hope it doesn't fly quite as fast for me.

-Chris

P.S. I think my external hard drive is broken and I might have lost all my pictures, videos, and documents. I hope it's repairable.

Learn Spanish: Panqueques (Pahn Kay Kays) (Pancakes)

Finally A Break!

I've been working and going to Spanish lessons nonstop for about two weeks now. But all my English classes ended and now I only teach on Mondays and Fridays. I still have Spanish lessons everyday, but only for two hours. Next week I'll be cutting my Spanish lessons back to six hours a week so I will have time and money.

I've been watching a lot of movies. In the past week I've seen 6. I've basically quit watching TV (except CNN and BBC News in the morning).

I finally weighed myself the other day and I've gained 15 pounds since I got here.

It's been nearly five months since I left the US and I have approximately 4 1/2 months until I return. Two of those months will I'll be on vacation. Then 2 1/2 months of whatever Rotary decides to make me do (High school, Univiersity, Institute, etc.). And then another three months of vacation.

-Chris

Learn Spanish: libras (Lee Brahs [like zebra with an 'L']) (Pounds)

Things Are Looking Up

Teaching is turning out to be fun. I've only taught three classes, but I already like it. I was really nervous my first day and I hadn't planned enough for the class to do. But now I've got the hang of it. Today I said they could leave five minutes early if they wanted to, but they told me they wanted to stay and talk to me. And one asked for private lessons.

And last night my friend Duncan came back from Cuzco. So now I have somebody to hang out with. Now, if only I had a money tree life would be perfect.


-Christopher


Learn Spanish: arbol (are bowl) (tree)

An Exciting Couple of Days

Well, Saturday I was robbed at knifepoint. That's the biggest and scariest news. And the event with lingering effects.

After the robbery my parents snapped into action and sent me money, so a big thanks to them. And then I went shopping for work clothes. And I got some pretty nice clothes.

Monday I started my Spanish lessons. I'm glad I'm back in them, but I can only afford this week's tuition (which was paid before the robbery). My teacher's nice, she's an English teacher, but her English is absolutely terrible. I also started my new job as an English teacher on Monday. I haven't taught a class yet, but I've been to a meeting about things should be run and today I sat in on a class. Tomorrow is my first class. I'm excited and nervous.


-Chris

Learn Spanish: Ladron (Lah Drone) (Thief)

I Finally Accomplished Something

Today I had an interview at an English institute. They hired me as soon as I said I was from the US. I get paid 2 dollars an hour. And if I do well I will make 3 dollars an hour within a month (so they say). Finally, minds to mold. I also signed up for Spanish lessons. So starting Monday my schedule will be 8:30-10:30 Spanish lessons and 11:00-8:00 English lessons. I'm excited to get out of this boring house. Plus this means I'll be meeting people which is nice since all the other exchangers are on their trip.


-Christopher

Learn Spanish: Lunes (Loon Ace) (Monday)

A New Year

I started looking into Spanish institutes down here. And I think I've found one I like. It's a café/Spanish school and you can drink all the tea/coffee you want, use their internet, and use their library for free. And the founder of the school also owns a travel agency so students get big discounts on trips. They also offer free cooking and dancing lessons. My Spanish is okay, but I really want it to be perfect (I guess that's my New Year's Resolution). And it's really not improving by just talking to people, because they never correct me.

Tomorrow I have a breakfast to go to. It will be the first time I've been up before nine in about 3 weeks. The Australians here are leaving soon to go back to Australia. They've been here since January of last year. I'm going to miss them. They were complete opposites. They're not the only ones going, the rest of the exchange students (minus four) are going on a month long trip to the North of Peru. I'm glad I'll be starting Spanish lessons again, so that I'll have something to do.


-Chris

Learn Spanish: Enero (EE Nehr Oh) (January)

This video is the fireworks from New Year's Eve. There's not nearly as many as their were on Christmas, but it's still a lot.