Spanish Database

It turns out I am freakishly good at Spanish. I don't mean this in a braggy sort of way. I'm actually very confused and amazed myself at how well I'm picking this language up.... My first day of high school, I distinctly remember sitting in my councilor's office being asked which foreign language I would like to choose: Spanish, French, or Latin? Without hesitation I chose Latin because everyone chose Spanish or French. I didn't want to be like everyone else. I mean I'm glad I did because it changed my life. Because of Latin I went into languages and linguistics. But still maybe some Spanish classes would have been good.

Over the years though, through four years of Latin, one year of French, one quarter of Portuguese, and just general life, I have accumulated an oddly large amount of vocabulary, phonology, and grammar. While I was in LA with Totoi (June 25-27 or 28?) I would think of a word and ask if I was right.

"Playa is beach right? Pelota is ball?" And I even just knew phrases.

Totoi would be surprised and be like "how do you know that?!" I have no idea. So we labeled it the Spanish Database: my vast but random knowledge of this language just stored somewhere in the back of my mind. I'm not complaining though. The sooner I become conversational the better.

I'm on my fifth day here in Ensenada, Mexico and I can't tell you how many times people have been surprised and said my pronunciation is very very good. I've literally been mistaken for Mexican with just my small number of phrases. I sound so natural for some really crazy reason.... And I'm absorbing words and grammar absurdly fast! In Korea, there was no chance of me being mistaken for a native, but here if I learn Spanish I could blend in so well!!! I love it! Also I love Latino boys.... There are so many attractive guys and the language adds 20 points!

Anyway. I'm going to add some posts out of order, but I'll include a date and timeline of when they actually occurred.