I have come to the realization that I am never going to learn Spain. What i mean is really learn Spanish. I am around a number of euoropeans who speak wonderful English. I one day dream of being able to speak Spanish as well as they speak English, but there is so much I say that they don´t understand. I have been amazed at the number of idioms that I used. I used the phrase, “Well, I think I have bounced back,” in refering to a little bug that I had and none of the non-native speakers in the room had heard the phrase before. They understood it, but didn´t know it or why it made sence. Languages are such big unwheeldly things I don´t know how it is ever posible to feel ike you have mastered it. At times I don´t feel that way about the english lanuage.
I have gotten to the point in my laugage study where I am no longer trying to make simple delcaritive statements. “No hablo much Español (I don´t speak mcuh spanish)” “Soy de EE.UU.(I am from the United States)” “Soy malabarista (I am a juggler)” I am trying to move beyond noun, verb, and maybe prepisition. It is very furstrating. It is amazing how suttle language is. How much of our native language we take forganted.
On Monday I felt like I was just about to make a break trough, and just have the langauge streeming out of my mouth, by Tuesday at lunch that confidence was gone. It is amazing the words we don´t think of that mean and do so much. “while, if, for, therefor, after, before, then, there, here”.
Assinged seats I have been going to daily mass this week at Santa Anna y San Gil (I have no idea what Gil is in english, but I don´t think I have a good idea about Anna. I think it means Jennifer). Like most daily masses it is a bunch of little old ladies. Most sitting in the same spot eeryday. The chuch is right on the main plaza in the historical part of town, so before and after mass a number of tourist wonder in and out (for good reason, it is a beautiful church). Yesterday, sitting on the aile of the second row was a tourist who was looking up at the ceiling, taking pictures. One of the ladies walked in. The toursit was sitting in her seat. So she came in and sat right next to the tourist, in a very empty church. The tourist didn´t seem to notice. After to tourist had drank in enought of the sights, she left. The little old lady promptly slid over in to “her” seat, which was now vacant.
Cowboy I am wearing a hat here that is a staw cowboy hat (a la M. May, decorated with studs and safty pins). Last night I was having dinner with a friend from Engalnd when a woman walked by our table. I reconized her from the school, but didn´t know her. I smiled. She smiled back, stopped, and then said, “How do I know you? (pause) Your the cowboy.” First and last time I will be called that I am sure.
Off to memorize more words.

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