Such a Classy Broad

Spanish classes every day. It’s sort of like being in la escuela once again....the real deal. A daily Monday-Friday schedule that revolves, at least partly, around a class. It’s strangely familiar and comforting to have that again. The mix of people is great---all the other students are older than us by substantial margins, and all have different reasons for wanting to be in the class. Different places they are from. Different levels of understanding. But we have found this common ground, and it’s been a great way to meet people who aren’t necessarily here for the same reasons we are. (Most of the friends we have made over the years have been met while sitting on the beach at Playa Pastora on good/bad surf days....)

El Professor is a gentle (and incredibly patient) man named Guillermo who makes me smile more than I would have expected when I am frustrated or confused. He’s great, and seems to be incredibly effective thus far. It’s week 2, and we’re already discussing continuing on with next month’s class. It’s a nice addition to our days...the structure is more beneficial than either of us anticipated. And I’m figuring out that I can just bribe him with homemade goodies to get in his good graces, which is fabulous!

There is talk of an annual class trip to Cuba, and we are seriously considering it. It seems to be too good to pass up. The sort of thing that we would seriously regret if we didn’t take him up on his offer. (It’s an annual adventure for him, and he is quite familiar with the ins and outs of travel there, the expenses, the illegality of taking a bunch of Gringos there.....I trust him completely.) There will be updates on this as it unfolds, too, I’m sure.