Week 1 recap: a wedding, a birthday, Español lessons
¿Como esta? (How´s it going?) Life in Lima is going pretty well thus far. It´s been a relaxed week for me, with Marianella working during the days and my communication with her parents limited (they only speak Spanish), I have been catching up on my sleep, reading, preparing for my fantasy football drafts, and watching TV. You might say, what a life of leisure! Which I would respond, yes, but realize that my watching TV is actually work. What I have been tuning into is TV shows or movies where they are broadcast in English, with Spanish subtitles at the bottom of the screen. So, as I watch Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond I sit with a notebook on my lap, scribbling down Spanish words that I am able to figure out their English meaning. These are then transferred to flash cards so I can practice with Marianella the words, phrases, and sentences in Spanish. So after spending a day teaching first graders, Marianella comes home and does the equivalent of that with her husband at night :).
Realizing that there are limits to my TV Spanish lessons, I also began formalized Spanish lessons this Wednesday with a teacher for an hour each session. Our lessons take an hour, and by the end of each, my head is swimming with words and information. I never took Spanish in high school or college, so I´m making an uphill climb, but hoping that I will be able to start to comprehend the Spanish language soon. I´m learning what a challenge it is to communicate with people without sharing the same language and hoping to overcome this as soon as possible.
Last weekend there were a couple social events that the Vizcarra/Stokes clan indulged in. On Saturday night we attended the wedding of one of Marianella´s neighbors and childhood friends.
I have shared with some of you before how Peru time is different than United States time-suffice to say, when in celebration mode, Peruvians tend to not concern themselves with the clock. This was evident on Saturday night, when I looked at Marianella´s watch after having just completed dinner and saw that it was midnight. We left the wedding dance early and while it was still in full swing, and this was at 2 a.m. Marianella claims that this was unusual, but after our engagement party last summer finally ended at 4 a.m., I don´t know if I can believe her.
With Marianella and her father at the wedding reception:
After grabbing a few hours sleep, we awoke and travelled to her Aunt Adriana´s apartment to celebrate Cousin Diego´s 23rd birthday. Diego and I forged a bond last summer, due in part to the fact that he speaks English (along with Marianella and her brother, German, among the Vizcarra family), but more due to the fact that we enjoy many of the same movies, music, we both enjoy reading, and we both enjoy picking on Marianella. We celebrated his birthday by feasting-Adriana served up a delicious double of lunch and dinner for us, with Tres Leche ( three milk) Cake to complete the celebration. My mouth is literally watering as I type, recalling the cake. We also strolled down to the local park where a book fair was in progress, as Diego inhales books. We were able to find some books in English too, and my dear wife bought for me the last of the Harry Potter collection, so I can finally see how the Potter saga finishes.
In deep conversation with Cousin Diego:
That about covers it for this week. . .Marianella tells me we have a busy Saturday on tap and I have two fantasy football drafts to participate in this weekend, which should be interesting seeing as how my competitors are stationed back in Minnesota. Have a good week everyone and I´ll be back with an update next Friday.
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