Confession

I have a confession to make. I almost NEVER speak in Spanish! It's not that I don't know how, it's just that I choose to reply in English. I guess it's because it's my first language/ the language that I'm most comfortable with. Here's the catch: If I'm with someone who is speaking Spanish but also speaks English, I will listen to everything that they say in Spanish and reply in English. However, if I'm with someone who only speaks Spanish, then I will adjust my comfort level in order to accommodate them. So I guess you can say I speak it when necessary or when I'm joking around with my friend Rhayven.

I've always wanted to learn Spanish. Even as a little inquisitive child lol! In Newark, we have a high population of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. When I would go inside the corner store, they would be talking away, and if someone upset them, the talking got more harsh and they started pointing at whomever upset them, and I always wanted to know what they were saying. One, so I could know if they were ever talking about me. Two, I don't like the feeling of "not knowing," if that makes any sense?

My high school is blessed with many staff who have the gift of teaching. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet today for a dinner date with two of them today,

Mrs. Soares and Ms. Chi!

They told me yesterday "prepárate hablaremos solo en español!" That means "prepare yourself, we will only speak in Spanish." Haha they tried that, but I shut it down before we even sat down at the table. Granted, they still spoke in Spanish and I responded in English. It would have been great practice but, I didn't speak in Spanish. Lately, I've been getting a little concerned about my understanding of and responding to the language. Especially since I have to take a placement test when I get to Granada and I haven't intensely practiced Spanish since the fall of 2010 (pray for me)! But, today was a little bit of a reassurance for me. I can understand it still! Lets just pray I remember all of the verb forms, and irregulars!

Here's my vow to me and to you: When I get to Spain, I will try my hardest to speak sólo en Espanol o tanto como posible (only in Spanish or in Spanish as much as possible). If not, I'm wasting my trip, the experience and the opportunity to better myself. Before I left for summer vacation, I had to sign a few contracts in The Study Abroad Office and a lot of them were reminding me that even though I am abroad, I am still to conduct myself as a Hampton University student. "I love, I love, I love my HIU," so I'm going to do my best to assure that I uphold "The Standard of Excellence"