Purchased some plants: a fuschia and jasmine plant from the compost people. It’s where we take our food waste (hop on the bus). There is no local pick up for this (and I admit that I was a little spoiled in WA by our ability to compost easily) and it really reduces our actual “trash”. I am hoping to “train” the jasmine to grow on the rails/poles of our lanai. Bought more pots and plants at a couple of small vendors, as well as soil. While repotting the fuschia, I managed to break one of the branches😫. Am trying to see if I can get it to root. Also trying to root an avocado and some peas🤞. The flowering vine piece that I picked along one of our walks has already rooted and I have potted it.
I attended a Zoom meeting for potential students in Spanish being offered by the Universidad de Cuenca. Classes begin in November and run through January. It is directed for foreigners who are interested in learning to speak Spanish. There will be three levels: beginning (ME!), intermediate, and advanced. The classes will be immersion and I have been told that the class for me will have a total of five students so plenty of instructor attention. I have to admit that I was super nervous about the Zoom meeting! I now know where my kids get their social anxiety. It was so intense that I almost opted out – but cooler thinking prevailed.
The meeting was interesting – plenty of attendees and was overseen by the two primary coordinators, one of which speaks English well, the other is fluent in French which is good because one potential student is French. Most people attending were older (retirees) and I noticed that many did NOT say anything. Ironically once I am in a group I try to make others feel better by asking questions/saying something so they may be willing to talk…kind of a dicotomy to having the social anxiety 🤔. Anywho, I will have to change my “name” as it listed my name as elbee – my moniker. I was the only one with a moniker and not real name 😖.
I also noticed a couple of people who had a little trouble signing on to the call with their video. Most figured it out with a few clicks; however one poor woman had some aggressive “assistance” verbally from her significant other 😠. I noted her name and if she is in my group, I will try to be supportive and friendly toward her.
After telling us about the classes and answering the few questions that were asked (mine included) we were asked to “join a separate call”. The separate call was the invitation to take the placement test and then be interviewed by the two instructors. The test was not really hard but the listening portion was not easy for me! The recorded talk was spoken at the “normal” (for me, too fast!) speed and I had to listen to it four or five times. I got the gist but then we had to answer questions about it and I was stymied by the first one because the pronounciation and speed didn’t allow me to hear clearly what she said.
After completing the “placement test” you were connected to the two instructors for the verbal interview. THAT was a little stressful for me. I think it is because I do not like doing things poorly and I know that my Spanish is not good…yet. I was asked to tell them about myself, where I lived, what I like to do, etc. all in Spanish. Lots of pauses on my end as I searched for the words to use. I explained that I understood better than I spoke but only if the conversation was not too rapido! The instructors asked me where in the US I lived and to describe it (again, only in espanol). I did my best and then told them “estoy muy nervioso” and they told me not to be.
So I will attend this language class – it will be a test for me to overcome the anxiety. It will be good and I know it will be helpful. Hopefully I’ll pick it up quicker and then be able to interact a little more with the people we see in the mercados, etc.
brauner abroad 