(no subject)

[mamculuna]

I just made a reservation for my intensive Spanish in Guatemala! I'm going to a pretty little town near Laguna Atitlan for three weeks, late Jan-early Feb. I'll stay with a family and take one-on-one classes four hours a day, and take other classes on culture, history, etc. I hope to do some volunteer work and travel in the area--there's a volcano beside the lake, and lots of other stuff. I'm hoping it's high enough that I won't need malaria medicine 8(

And this is my first post for kalimeg:

1. Post about something that made you happy today even if it's just a small thing and even if it's just a one-line post.

2. Do this everyday for a week without fail.

3. Tag 8 of your friends to do the same.

But oh, woe, hate to tag. I'll name some people who often post happy stuff anyway, but you're free to ignore.

midnightsjane
ann1962
anomster
green_lizard
mummm
scrollgirl
ljs
rivendweller

Comments

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Your trip sounds exciting. I hope it's wonderful.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I like this meme--today it was easy.

[usedtobeljs]

I might not manage to post every day, but I'll try!

And hugs and hurrahs for your Guatemala trip!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Seems like you often do--and your posts make me happy!

[rebekahroxanna.livejournal.com]

Your trip sounds terrific. Espero que puede apprendar espanol.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

¡Yo espero hacer lo mismo!

[maeve-rigan.livejournal.com]

Good for you on the trip--learning, making friends, doing good--can't get much better than that.

Thinking positive is a good motivator...I'll give it a try.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yay! Started to tag you, but thought about it being exam time...

I'm a little trepidacious about going off by myself for so long, but it sounds as though the school will keep me busy.

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

I don't mind posting something happy!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yay! Seems like you often do!

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

That sounds fabulous! When I was learning Spanish I lived with a Mexican family in Mexico City; they were family of a friend of mine here in Canada. None of them spoke English, and I learned pretty much by osmosis. Best way to learn another language, for sure. I was amazed that after about a month, I was even dreaming in Spanish!
I'm sure I can find happy stuff to post about!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

You always post happy stuff--the icon alone gets bonus points!

I hope the osmosis will work at my advanced age. I studied French for years in college, but never spent a lot of time in a Francophone country, so I don't speak and understand it much better than I do German, which I almost entirely picked up from my in-laws (at the time).

[ann1962]

I love your life!! Have a great trip.

Neat idea for a meme thing. Will do most likely.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I expect you will--your posts always make us happy, for sure.

[anomster.livejournal.com]

Huh? Who, me? I often post happy stuff? Seems to me I kvetch a lot! Well, I'll see about it. No promises about a whole week "without fail"--I don't like the feeling that I'm "supposed to" do something.

I'm going to a housefilk today, & I expect that to make me happy. I can post about that after it happens. But I actually read your post last night, so I should start w/yesterday. Not going to tag anyone, though.

But I'm happy about your trip, it sounds great! I hope the travel goes fine--& that you don't need the malaria shot! What elevation is the town at? & what's it called? I remember a story in the New York Times about programs like the one you signed up for, but it was years ago & the info is probably out of date, or I'd've tried to find it for you. Hey, is there any chance you'll have LJ access there?

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Filk sounds happy-making, for sure! I think it fulfills the mission if you say that planning to go makes you happy, but we'd all like to hear more about it.

The town is San Pedro La Laguna (though maybe that's the name of the school only, or the volcano...maps not clear)--it's on Laguna Atitlan. Friends of a friend recommended this one, though there's also another in Quetzaltenango that sounds similar and very good. Maybe another year! They say there are internet cafes nearby, so I plan to post a few times, hopefully--and will keep a journal (in Spanish, but you'll be able to read it once my Spanish gets coherent).

My biggest goal is to be able to begin to understand native speakers. I can write and read with the help of a dictionary, but we don't get Spanish language TV down here for free, and the radio stations drive me wild with the yelling.