My first week in Spanish school!

I was prepared, or so I thought, for my first day of school.  I had ridden the bus and walked to the school the previous week (I timed myself) so that I would be 'ready' on the first day.  Well, I

was on the bus on the first day and all of a sudden, at the last Glorieta (round-about) before the road to the school, the street was closed for the Faria (fair) and all the traffic was being detoured to the right. I had no idea where that detour would end up and of course I forgot the map, so I got off the bus and walked through the faria (about 1/2 mile of tarp covered booths) to the school. I made it on time, thank goodness.

My first day at Instituto Chac Mool (Chac-Mool is a pre-columbian mesoamerican stone statue, pic) started at 8am with  a placement test, an orientation and then I was placed in my first class consisting of 2 other adult students.  The main rule, which students see as soon as they enter the front door, is that you may not speak English!  Yikes!  After the test and orientation, the schedule was as follows:  From 8:50-11:40 we have Spanish structure and practice (in a classroom which is a hut outside, pic).  From 12:00-1:50 we have conversation workshop or content courses.  Then, from 1:55- 2:35 you may sign up for either a lecture or a private one-on-one consult.  From 5-7pm Monday - Thursday there is a different event each night, dinner at a restaurant, cooking class, dance class or art class.  On the weekend, for a small fee, they have guided excursions to other cities close to Cuernavaca.

After my first week, I can honestly say, I AM WORN OUT!  It's tough concentrating so hard for 5 hours a day!  However, I have already improved my Spanish and learned a lot! Giovanni is my morning teacher (in this group I am with one other person from Canada) and Veronica is my teacher in the afternoon (in this group I am with 3 others, 2 from California and one from

Michigan).  The teachers are sympathetic and very good but also very strict.  It's interesting being ordered around by a teacher 1/2 my age!  :o)  We work hard, use many modes of learning and have tons of fun.  It is a very relaxed atmosphere. 

(The last two picture are of the school.  The backyard where we have our classes--rough huh?--and the building which has other rooms for classes)

Coming soon:  Other observations.