And so it is...

I recently fell in love, and it took me completely by surprise. I really didn´t see it coming, but I´m totally smitten with grammar. I´ve studied languages intensively for five years, and I´ve always resisted grammar at times even detested it. I suppose I was bound to fall under it´s charms eventually. I regularly got C´s in college language classes, because I didn´t study. I was very engaged with my readings and my papers but I couldn´t be bothered with the idiosyncrasies of grammar. I like words, and I like the idea of knowing a language. I like culture, history, and politics. I pretend I´m a spy, and spy´s need to know foreign languages. But I NEVER liked grammar. It was a necessary evil. It is the math of languages. Grammar; to many rules, not enough discourse.

So their I was in my intensive Spanish class, and we were flying through stuff. My teacher didn´t have to explain any grammar to me, just the rules of Spanish grammar. After hearing grammar so many times, I suppose most of it sunk in, although I know that I am still weak in certain grammatical aspects of each language. Now I´m motivated to study it critically, to intentionally make the observations. I want to practice grammar on a meta-conscious level, not just a habitual level of passive resignation to seemingly arbitrary rules. It´s a shame I didn´t fall in love sooner because I had the opportunity to study grammar in college. I guess it is a lesson in remembering that every moment is an opportunity, and I never know how I might be served by it.

Normally I´m a huge fan of details especially concerning art, history, and peoples lives. I never liked grammar details because it didn´t seem creative. Now I´m a fan. It is creative. If you know the grammar, then on a literature level their are so many creative possibilities. French and German literature has an additional element of beauty because the grammar of the languages is so much more specific than English.

After my Spanish class, I briefly fantasized about being a language teacher. This has always been out of the question, primarily because grammar was so loathsome. Now that I´m enchanted with all aspects of language, I feel that I could share that passion with other people. Sometimes I wish I would stop having so many exciting ideas about what to do with my life! Reincarnation is increasingly becoming an attractive idea as I struggle to accept that I probably won´t have time to do everything I want to do.

Gringos Beware!

Their is an expression in Chile that if you don´t look in the eyes of the person you cheers with, then you´ll have bad sex for five years. The Germans and the French feel strongly about eye contact on the cheers but not as strongly as the Chileans. I have the most trouble getting eye contact in the States. Italy, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden always rendered a good eye lock. But eye contact in the United States is so rare that I get a thrill from a good Cheers when I´m home. So if you´re reading this, consider raising your eyes when you raise your glass.

Learning Spanish

Currently I speak exclusively in the present tense with poorly conjugated verbs. My friends in France teased me about using gestures, but speaking Spanish is like a full on theatrical performance. Whole ideas are expressed using no words. What did you do today was once answered like this.

Good.
Go Friend of Anna´s Birthday.
Eat empanadas.
A lot, and the gesture for walk.
Artisan shopping.
Register School.
I like.
Good Day.

Details, sentences, and conjugations are extraneous. This economy of words lends a whole new dimension to the idea of minimalism. Every time I´m in the position of learning a language I have to question how important my contributions to conversations are, and if I couldn´t stand to hold my tongue more.

When first learning a language, I usually only speak when I´m asked something. Talking usually requires a translator of sorts. Someone who understands my baby talk and gestures. Some people are really awesome at it and I wonder if I have some special connection with these translators, or if these are just sensitive, observant, creative people.

I prefer to be in groups greater than three because their is a polite/awkward timidity about speaking when its only two others and I. They don´t want to talk for fear of excluding me, and I don´t speak for fear of excluding someone. When it´s me and more than two others the awkwardness of my not understanding quickly dissipates and I become a fly on the wall. At which point I´m free to practice my periphery vision, observe social interactions, or listen to whatever I can understand of the conversation. Generally I understand quite a bit if someone deliberately speaks slowly with me, although I´m getting better at normal conversation speed.

A week of Spanish classes starts today.

Viva Chile!

I arrived in Chile Tuesday on a rainy winter morning but I was all warmed up when I hugged my friend Ursula! I´m so excited to be here! It´s wonderful to learn more about my friend, who she is, and where she comes from. Ursula was a big part of my life in France. We shared all of the good times and challenges of life in France. She was their from day one when we both spoke very little French. It must have been hilarious to hear the two us babbling like kids. Ursula understands my experience in France like nobody else can, and she understands what it´s like to go home. I can always tell someone my history, but I feel profoundly connected to someone when I have lived a history with them. That´s why family, particularly siblings are so precious to me. Who else besides siblings do I have more shared history with?

Ursula is an actress, and passionate theater fanatic. Last night my dream to see her on stage finally came true. It was incredible. The text was written by the director, and I´m in the middle of studying it. I´ll get to see the show many times, so I´m hoping to really understand it by the time I leave. This weekend I´m going to the country, so I think I´ll have plenty of time to study it their.

After the show we went to one of the actors apartment. He lives in the center of Santiago. We had drinks and chatted on the top of a 24 story building. I regret not having my camera. The view and the lights were phenomenal. I had so many wonderful people to share it with too. Could life get any richer?