The Brain Dead and the Dead

Day three of Spanish classes and I'm expected to produce entire sentences. Oy. I'm realizing that the problem with being the ONLY student in class is not that I can't hide, but that I have no idea if I'm smart or not. I've always been an A student but here I can't tell. Do I suck? Am I progressing quickly? I can't compare myself to anyone else and it's frustrating. Just give me a grade already.

After class I bought more empanadas at another little shop down the street. The empanada stores are like Starbucks in downtown Seattle. You can see one from another. This one had a dozen or more flavors. I must try them all.

After lunch I got an email from my other tutor. She's sick, so no class today. Thank God. My brain was about to explode. From what I remember of German in college, we're doing about a week's worth of work each day. It's not immersion so much as lighting fast.

So with no plans I strolled around Recoleta trying to shut down my brain for just a few hours before I tackled my homework. I found myself in the cementary, which is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. It's where the presidents of Argentina and Evita Perron are buried. It's acres of little tiny mausoleums. Each has urns or caskets in little rooms where the families can pay their respects. It's strangely creepy and relaxing at the same time.

Well time has gotten away from me. Now it's off to celebrate the Fourth of July with a motley crew of world travelers. I think the party will include lots of vino y carne. Yum. Good thing I walk everywhere, otherwise I'd come home a whale.