It’s a hassle, and it’s not cheap. Here I’m thinking of only four tires. For trucks it’s worse. But for headaches this is hard ... by Eric, May 04, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Construction materials were always delivered, of course. Five gallon bottles of water have been delivered for a long time. For many large purchases—refrigerators, sofas, mattresses, and etc.—you had to, and often still have to, arrange delivery with a mudanza truck. (Mudanzas have sites where they hang out as do many taxis.) Nowadays even pharmacies deliver. Pizza delivery has brought many other kinds of restaurants into the home delivery craze. Our laundry service has pick-up and delivery although very few laundries do. More and more the convenience of entrega a casa is catching on. For a modest tip, these guys bring ... by Eric, May 02, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
When I'm there I take daily walks along the malecon from the school to the downtown area. But this year, I decided to get to know the neighborhoods a little better so I used the residential streets for my daily walks. I walked from the school to the main bus station and back, I walked from the school to downtown and back. Every day I took a different route. Many days when I arrived downtown I walked around the area, marching with all the other business people, students, and vendors. Every day, everywhere I walked, I felt perfectly safe. I didn't ... by Ted, Mar 27, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Because of gravity, of course, he has a skinny leg up on the competition. And luck is usually with him. Also, we’re all on his side—it’s the American way to side with the under chicken. It was windy last Monday, and so we didn’t go to the grocery store. We missed the action. Tuesday morning, headed to the store, we stood looking at the aftermath. We held our breath hoping that ... by Eric, Mar 25, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The mass ascensions at the Balloon Fiesta were as beautiful as beautiful gets—incredible colors, incredibly graceful motion. In Mexico we might see a balloon once every ten years. There just aren’t many down this way. But don’t feel bad for us. We have the same beauty—the same colors, treats for one’s eyes, and the motion. Ours, I do admit, is a tad bit less lofty. I was surrounded by it yesterday. I was caught up in it all as I strolled to the bank. Right there, with the blue-green ocean and bright sky as a background, I marveled at how gorgeous it all is. Ah, beauty bringing joy to my eyes as I ... by Eric, Mar 11, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Before booking the trip we had been concerned about safety so we had been hesitant about going. But now I know firsthand that there is no need to be worried about safety. We never once felt unsafe while we were there and we travelled by ... by Ruthie, Mar 7, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Allergic events happen rarely—years apart, but one happened the other day. Everything’s fine. We stayed calm and did everything right—including going speedily to the E.R. The medical term is anaphylactic shock, and it’s bad. It’s because of the E.R. that I’m writing about this. The doctor was fully competent. I questioned and quizzed him, skeptical I am about anyone caring for Linda, and he advanced my knowledge greatly. The R.N.s and the R.T. were super. The attitude was serious but comforting and friendly. They did more things than I thought were necessary—I mentioned that I thought so, and the E.R. doc once again contributed, with excellent and non-condescending bedside manner, to my knowledge base. Well, yes, I was right in the middle of things the whole time. My excuse was that I had to translate; my reason was that I would not leave Linda’s side. They tolerated my being there with all the gentle kindness of Mexico (but I did stay out of the way—I was a positive, I’m sure, presence). We get excellent medical care here in Veracruz. It’s every bit as good as we get back home, and maybe better. Anyhow, then came the happiest thing that happens in an E.R. It was time ... by Eric, Feb 28, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
So, how did we end up with four students in their twenties and early thirties this past week. It’s a good thing Linda has a Master’s in Probability and Statistics. And it’s a good thing I, her always dazzled by her husband, listen to her. Outliers! These young adults are outliers. That, of course doesn’t mean they are outlaws or aliens or anything unseemly. It just means that a weekly group with a mean age at about 34 (instead of 49, we have two “regular” age students to average in) is about 3 standard deviations away from the mean. (Oh the jargon of statistics! Standard deviation has nothing at all to do with deviants.) It’s important to mention that our student ages ... by Eric, Feb 23, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I ran through the first Sunday four-hour tour of the city with him. He’s led it before, but it’s been awhile and some things have changed. During the four hours, I had a chance to teach him a few new things. Back home, up there, (and so also at school) we do everything the hard way. Down here, as you’re about to see, many highly practical, lesser “engineered” solutions take hold. This one has to do with electricity. Consider how your electric meter is so securely and neatly mounted to you house. Oh, so much effort it takes to do it so correctly, to do it exactly up to code. But if you have ... by Eric, Jan 10, 2013 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It was in action, with kids zipping through it and parents standing close by and families on shore getting ready for the fun. And then a few weeks before our (Linda’s and mine) vacation it came ashore. The school year had just begun. The beach wasn’t loaded with kids. That made sense. Now I’m worried. When we got back from vacation (eight weeks later, and what a super vacation we had) it had changed from splendor ... by Eric, Dec 11, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We had just finished dinner in a restaurant we particularly like. A man, a few years my elder, came to the table to ask if all was well. We’d seen him several times before. We thought he and his wife were the owners. He told us his daughter is the owner, but he and his wife are very often there. His English was exceptional. It turns out he was born in Germany—he was five at the end of WWII. US forces occupied the part of Germany in which his family lived. There was a heavy knock ... by Eric, Dec 5, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Back home (in Albuquerque and Tucson) we have very fine buses. In Italy (where we were before going north to Denmark) the buses were likewise very fine. But in Copenhagen they were perfect—one look for the entire fleet, very modern and high tech design, no scratches in the paint, smooth ride, no graffiti, extra comfortable seats, super well driven, and oh I could go on and on. They are a credit to the engineering and management decisions of the Danes. I say this with full respect and admiration. BUT there was one thing their buses lacked They lacked ... by Eric, Nov 27, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
(Truth be told, as always it is in this blog, I’ve never seen an episode of CSI, but all the weekly plots must go kind of like this.) The chief of the investigation stands, maybe nervously, maybe agitatedly, to the side, and the CSI specialists slip into action. The chief descends the open stairwell and has coffee and Cantuccini (that we brought back from, of all places, Copenhagen). The CSI’s worked on. Opening, probing, sifting, searching and searching, dedicated members of the force checked for evidence in every nook and cranny. Outdoors, indoors, everywhere, and finally ... by Eric, Nov 18, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
She went to work on her Italian. A few blogs down the list I mentioned she’d been studying Italian. With her instructor in Veracruz, Linda’s approach to Italian was exactly how we teach Spanish, but with one serious difference. She couldn’t do any out-and-abouts or Thursday fieldtrips or be out on the town. Even so with the conversation driven classes (just like we do for Spanish) she could speak and understand. But ... by Eric, Oct 10, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We all know how Fido sits at the gate and waits for his master or his mistress to return home. Lassie used to wait for Timmy; Rin Tin Tin waited for Rusty. With longing eyes and eagerness to jump up and down with joy and lick like crazy, it’s a dog’s life. But what do you do if you master doesn’t go out the gate and down the road to work? What if he works in a small boat fishing for a living and passes out of site over the horizon? It’s no problem for ... by Eric, Sept 12, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
On one corner of our block we have buses headed both ways passing by every couple of minutes. On the other corner we have a bus, only running every 8 or ten minutes, headed right past the big downtown market. Taxis are even more prevalent than buses. We almost never have to wait for one. Here’s a look ... by Eric, Sept 2, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
With Wendy doing her internship (at a hospital only 8 blocks from here), Ada working for a local university and having a full scholarship to work on her master’s, and Tahere working for the United Nations at their national headquarters in Mexico City, we continue to have so much to be happy about. And we have even more. Maria has also moved on. You probably don’t recognize the name. It’s really Mariaconcetta, and she was here for two years. But she didn’t teach students. ... by Eric, August 20, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
You go to the pharmacy, and you’d buy easy to prepare foods, and you’d do the banking. Not the most exciting parts of living in Veracruz. So what might you do on your first non-essential outing—your first hedonistic pleasure excursion ... by Eric, July16, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We lost two members of the team—wonderful young employees, wonderful special people, wonderful friends for life. Wendy worked through Friday, and Ada worked through last night. And now they’re gone. It’s like there are two empty spots ... by Eric, June 25, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We know of no other school that pays so much attention to detail. We go so far as to even offer ... by Eric, June 21, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I bolted from of my chair. A barrage of heavy impacts followed, less loud but highly percussive. I was at the door and pulling hard. (Then I unlocked it and pulled again.) Safety is always an issue. And our take on this has probably been too narrow, too limited. More than a thousand times we’ve said (or handed out in written form) that “the very most dangerous thing in Veracruz ... by Eric, June 14, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Please convey my thanks to all of your staff; I had a great time getting to know all of them. Having such friendly, easy-going people made practicing Spanish a lot better, and I am missing Veracruz a lot. You asked me to write about the safety situation in Veracruz. I will be clear- Veracruz was an incredibly safe city to visit. I was out by myself in the city late at night many times, and I never felt in danger once. Veracruz had many joggers out by themselves late night, there were women who were by themselves, there were families with kids walking around.... This is something you just don't see in dangerous cities. I never saw any problems from the drug war that is affecting other parts of Mexico. To make a comparison ... by Tom, May 26, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
She was holding one of her notebooks—she’s in first grade. Linda and I didn’t quite catch on. She tiptoed a few steps closer and held out her notebook closer to us. At that moment, Linda and I learned that in elementary school they write a child’s grades in ... by Eric, June 1, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I have just returned from Latin America and the extra personal help that I received at the Spanish Immersion school enabled me to communicate with the sisters at a much deeper level. I would recommend your school to anyone who wants to have an exceptional experience ... by Sister Jude Ellen, May 22, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
This is a story of Amazing Coincidences! She’s coming down from Tucson; we came down from Tucson eight years ago. She plays the harp (with her she had a beautiful small folk harp); the school has a harp (of a different style) and we’ve been wanting to offer a combination of Spanish immersion and Veracruz harp. She will live up at Villa Rica beach and come to Veracruz. We are in Veracruz and take our students up to Villa Rica beach. In conjunction with her husband and his firm she’ll participate in community service activities in the Villa Rica beach area. Through our school we participate in community service activities here in Veracruz. You may be of the opinion that the above, although interesting, isn’t necessarily enough to be newsworthy, worthy of a spot in our famous (humbly let me say in our somewhat famous) Blog About Veracruz and Immersion. (pic)But there is a clincher--an additional coincidence to be added to the list. It’s the coincidence that fully warrants space herein and maybe space ... by Eric, May 20, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But now she’s doing great. Linda fell. Her ankle was injured. It looked bad. It was here at school, upstairs in our room—one of those terrible, frightening freak accidents. I had to get her to the emergency room. I didn’t know how to move her. I didn’t know which hospital to go to. It was about 7:50 in the morning. Long ago Dr. Rivera gave us his cell number in case of emergency. I dialed it. He was home having breakfast. I explained. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” he said. “Which emergency room?” I asked. “No,” he said. “Your house.” He was at our front door ... by Eric, May 07, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Before we came out, we heard a lot of scary stories about crime and hijacking. Since I have been here, I have learned this applies to other areas in Mexico. Veracruz seems to be a town like any other in Holland {Pleun’s homeland} or the US. I just follow what the locals do. I see women hailing taxis from the street by themselves, therefore so do I. These taxi rides prove a great way to practice Spanish. The scariest thing to me here is that ... by Pleun, April 10, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We were able to get the staff together for a couple hours for several days running. Linda and they worked on how to do anything and everything better. What they did one day they revisited the next already looking to make it better. Improvement is never ending. Our staff is great. They’re into it. They’re totally motivated and very responsible. They want to school to be strong; they want us to keep getting highly positive and heart-warming review from students. They know it’s ... by Eric, Mar 31, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The school is very well run, the language lessons thorough and catered well to each student's needs. The staff is caring and kind and there is a wonderful family feel that develops between fellow students and staff. Veracruz is a wonderful city and the best for learning spanish. The local people are so kind and eager to engage with the students. The city is family orientated and safe. This visit I was there for the Carnaval preparations as well as ... by Britta, Mar 27, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I am SO glad that we were able to go and did not let fear stop us. This was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity that we hope very much to repeat. In early February, we watched as the U.S. Department of State upgraded the travel warnings for several states in Mexico just days before we were to depart; many were given "suspend all non-essential travel" warnings. I finally came up with an illustration to help my well-meaning friends and relatives understand. If there were riots in L.A. and/or New York, it would be ridiculous to tell everyone to stay away from our home state of Idaho. When our 3 weeks were over, I didn't want to leave... by Lorna, Mar 21, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We don’t advertise. We don’t go meet community leaders. We don’t partner with local schools. We don’t belong to Rotary. We don’t do anything to get the school known. Safety isn’t an issue in Veracruz. It never has been. Even during the couple of weeks that had a few ugly moments, safety wasn’t a question. But, for our sake and everyone’s at school, we are very safety conscious. We do any no-effort or almost-no-effort thing we can think of to add a layer of safety. It takes no effort ... by Eric, Mar 16, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I googled FTD to be able to tell you exactly what the letters stood for. Google first brought to my attention that FTD is talking about Facebook Transmitted Disease. But this form of virus isn’t from my early years. Then I found FTD with a little registered trademark sign and products mentioned for sale. I clicked and looked and looked. The FTD people didn’t seem to want me to know what FTD stands for. I started getting a little suspicious. In a historical article I found out that FTD means Florists' Telegraph Delivery. I guess if I were up there I’d be a little touchy about Telegraph being my claim to technology in the 21st century. But down hear it resonates. ... by Eric, Mar 9, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We work hard to help it happen. Jorge, who would have been working right now today, is on a bus to Mexico City and about to hop a flight to Argentina. He won a full scholarship, including airfare, to a university in Argentina. It is a one semester exchange. His parents are so proud. And so are we. And we’re so happy for a great young man to have such a growth opportunity. Regardless, I don’t like to say good-bye to those who are wonderful to have around. In Mexico life is often bittersweet. ... by Eric, Mar 06, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It’s been, as best I can remember, three years and one month since the swine flu hit. It’s been ongoing that there has been terrible, heartbreaking violence up along the US-Mexico border. We’ve seen the urls of many immersion schools in Mexico expire, the sites no longer online, the schools gone. There’s no denying that ... by Eric, Feb 18, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I’m sure you’ll agree that absolutely without fail this is exactly what we should be doing. It’s our responsibility to you. Looking here and there, near and far, high and low—that’s how seriously we take building a top notch team. This week we took our responsibility to a new ... by Eric, Jan 26, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Long we’ve wondered when the lying, thieving, lazy, crooked, cunning, contemptible traffic police would get their comeuppance. And now we know. The traffic police, the “transitos,” are a totally separate jurisdiction from the real police. Corrupt top to bottom, the best first step toward a solution, clearly, is to clean up the top. Consider it done! Today our two side by side cities, Veracruz and Boca del Rio, have new commanders of their transitos. Each of these new commanders is an ... by Eric, Jan 25, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Dave and Mary Jo were headed back to school from the mall. They chatted with the taxi driver. Once here Dave paid, and they slipped out of the cab and headed to the door. As they were slipping out of the cab, in the picture you’ll see what slipped out of ... by Eric, Jan 17, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
La Bamba is the best know example of Son Jarocho, the traditional music of Veracruz. Along with it goes Veracruz’s beautiful ballet folklorico. As a part of world music, Son Jarocho must be becoming more and more popular. We’ve had several inquiries about it the past few months. So we’re working to offer it in... by Eric, Jan 4, 2012 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
And he paid me back—big time. We had a plumbing emergency, on a Sunday of course. I went in to fix it. A defective part fell apart in my hand. Water was gushing up in the air. ... by Eric, Dec 19, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The school staff was dedicated to helping me reach my goals for my time in Veracruz both in and out of the classroom. I felt very safe in the city walking around town at night and this is the first time I have felt comfortable ... by Terry, Dec 10, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
And I love it. Just like so many of our Spanish students I had been working hard, but I couldn’t pull it all together. Just like them, I needed immersion to make magic happen. Terry Baldridge came to Veracruz for five weeks. His is a professor of music; his PhD is in musicology. He was gathering the traditional marimba music of Mexico. I just happened to be here with a marimba, a struggling (but not starving) student. With incredible patience, Terry worked with me for hours every day. I received the miracle of immersion, and I’m moving forward very fast... by Eric, Dec 5, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Straight grained, straight as an arrow, and standing straight up, they are amazing structures. But even more amazing is where they come from. Power poles, you’ll now remember forever, come from ... by Eric, Nov 17, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
In Mexico titles and status are a very big deal. My status is retired. Titles and status down here are much more important than reality. Give a manager a bigger title or bigger status and you’ve got a happy employee. You don’t to waste any money giving a raise. Titles and status aren’t tied too tightly to what actually is. You can have ... by Eric, Nov 9, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Terry (professor of music) is with us. He’s studying Spanish and getting around all the marimba music he can. Among the many projects he has in the mill, one is to teach marimba to a group of Guatemalan kids who live in his college town. He’ll actually be building several marimbas for them to play. Helping these kids preserve their culture and folk music is a kind of project that’s dear to our hearts. But back to the question, “how long does it take to get a gig?” Last night we saw that if you’re a professor of music who just happens to play both the accordion and the marimba, you’ll be ... by Eric, Oct 31, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
(I, myself, love to hang around and listen.) How dynamic, how inspiring, how life-enhancing? Well if you’re nine, as Juan Carlos’ son lets us see, it’s ... by Eric, Oct 13, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
This time, with a base {gained last time}, I was able to better feel the progress and see results. I was even able to have a good back and forth conversation with the taxi driver yesterday morning. I wish I had had more time there. ... by Elan, Oct 6, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
This highly stylized, high tech piece of hi-jinks is an ... by Eric, Oct 5, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I just wanted to thank you again for providing such a great service. He had the time of his life. I was very happy how well he is speaking and jealous too. LOL. He told many stories and went on and on about how nice everyone was and how funny ... by Bob {Kody's father}, Sept 28, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It’s hard to take, hard to see the country I love looking like it’s losing its heart. Some days it would be easy to give up; some days it’s hard not to. And some days we’re reminded about goodness and decency and humanity and humility and caring and those thousands of words I love to hear and to type and to see in action. Sister Yolanda Borbon is ... by Eric, Sept 19, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We did see him Tuesday--backpack full, big smile, well dressed, hungry, and a college kid. His mind was already abuzz with new ideas. We must have talked for over an hour. He’s headed for international commerce and expects to work in import-export and international shipping. It’s a great future here in Veracruz. Mexico is full of roadblocks that keep kids from being able to attend college. Public universities can handle only a small ... by Eric, Sept 8, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Jose Luis, the man who delivers our gas cylinders did just that. He’ll get a bigger Christmas bonus. When a cylinder is empty, you can either have it refilled or you can just have an exchange. We started with beautiful new blue cylinders. Immediately they were exchanged for banged up old orange cylinders, and those for other old banged up orange cylinders. On and on it went. It’s no big deal. But the other day. Jose Luis hand picked just for us ... by Eric, Aug 27, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
We went to the airport to pick up a new student, and we almost stumbled over the newest improvement to both security and beauty. Coming out from the carrousels, where we wait to meet students, we used to have a blue nylon belt carried on pipe stands (like you see all over the place). We now have designer bases with carbon dioxide absorbing fill. I’m worried. The fill will inevitably extend vertically and become even more densely packed. I might have to poke a telescope through it to spot our arriving students. This picture is how ... by Eric, Aug 16, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Corrosive, humid, warm environment—what’s it take to keep it maintained? Heavy usage, lots of regular old fashioned wear and tear—what’s it take to keep it up? Maybe you already know. If you’re not sure, here’s a hint. HINT: One answer fits all. Surely now you’ve got it. But to be sure you’re right, click below to check your answer ... by Eric, Aug 9, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The accommodations were clean and comfortable, the food delicious and the service impeccable. The individualized classes, out and abouts, field trips were educational, interesting, and fun. The maestros and charlantes were knowledgable and extremely helpful. Most of all, ... by Cindy, Aug 8, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Can a classic ever be made even better? I know it’s presumptuous of me to ask. But, well, maybe yes. Had Dr. Suess every visited Mega Commercial in Veracruz, we’d have been delighting in reading ... by Eric, Aug 3, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But when they cut loose they’ll ... by Eric, July 28, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I like to tell you about things down here—things that I find especially sweet and touching, or things I find particularly amusing, or things I think are of general interest to lovers of culture. I rarely talk about language acquisition and about the more serious side of the school. And, I take no credit for the success we’ve achieved. But I am proud. This small and friendly school of ours is exceptional at getting people speaking Spanish and speaking it better and better. It feels good to be part of teaching that is so highly successful. But still no credit for me. Unless, of course, I evoke the principle of ... by Eric, July 21, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
They’re established; they’re popular; they’re an institution, and they’re under attack. The renowned and truly famous Gran Café de la Parroquia, the spot where coffee is served right, has gone ... by Eric, July 19, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Lots of tourists borrow our breeze. They gather, sitting on the edge of our porch, waiting for their bus (parked along the street) to be ready to go. They buy ice cream and drinks and trinkets and whatnot from the tricycle mounted street vendors. Sometimes neighbors from the callejon (that runs through our block) come borrow our breeze. Our street is angled just right to get the best airflow. The callejon is angled exactly wrong. You can spot which neighbors are pros at breeze-borrowing. They know the ins and outs of maximum cool-breeze-pleasure. Pros ... by Eric, July 14, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Repair is easy. You simply catch a rewickerer as he’s biking down the street. (I should have known.) And he hangs your chair ... by Eric, July 11, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Veracruz doesn’t have Fig Newtons or Bit-Size Shredded Wheat; I’ve been totally forthcoming in admitting this. And this third of three little flaws I am simply a little late in mentioning. We also don’t have ... by name, June 7, 2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
He and his followers found cover high on the mountainside, and finally they settled a little to the southeast of today’s Orizaba. After many failed attempts by the Spanish Army to defeat the escapees, Yanga negotiated a peace that created the first free colony ... by Eric, June/15/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Students who had never mastered the subjunctive found this new way of looking at it to make good sense. We’re proud to be able to say that our students are not just studying the subjunctive but that they are in fact conquering it. Nowadays lots of our students want subjunctive. We needed more crew to teach it. Linda set aside time ... by Eric, June/13/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The moment of transcendence fell upon us at dinner a few days ago. The waiter poured a bit of wine in a large flask. He sloshed it around and decanted it into a standard size wine glass. It looked taste-test ready. He held an open-mouthed device above the flask and poured the wine. We heard ... by Eric, May/07/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
For more than a couple of years now, I haven’t qualified as a kid, but my most special of toys, a gift from Linda two years ago, I love ... by Eric, May/31/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
“The Army and the Marines are honest,” a cab driver told us yesterday. “And most of the Federal Police are honest.” We hear this all the time. The people want them here. When the military ... by Eric, May/25/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I had thought the program was perfect. Imagine my surprise when I found out ... by Rob, May/14/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But, in the throes of despair, I had to leak word. I just love ... by Eric, May/12/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
I walked into the living room, and Linda and Kevin (who covers school three nights a week) were looking at some papers in a folder. I don’t know if it was Kevin who said it or if it was Linda, but I got it. My eyes jumped to the papers—official as could be. Kevin had just finished ... by Eric, May/09/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
And then I’ll sit. I’ll sit on the X I’m going to spray paint on the concrete to reserve my spot. Right now it’s only a narrow path of big rocks, but soon it will be a concrete covered ... by Eric, May/05/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But all those gargoyles and things, what was the inspiration for them? How did anyone come up with the idea of putting heads and demons and angelic forms and trumpets and animals and on and on all over buildings. Veracruz is a wonderfully warm, caring, and accepting place. Many of life’s challenging questions are answered here. But who would ever have thought ... by Eric, Apr/27/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But this week, Semana Santa, Juan Carlos had a very early morning performance at the Gran Café de la Parroquia. From there he came directly here to give me my lesson. With him came his ... by Eric, Apr/23/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Headed out to the high seas through the mouth of the harbor (at the end of the outer seawall) we caught sight of these new vessels. They were in formation. They’re actually a new take on an old design. And, as I must point out to you if you shop only at Sam’s Club, this new design ... by Eric, Apr/17/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
And probably you’ve had yours forever. We always used to have one. But for seven years we’ve been waiting. “When you see the furniture store,” we would say, or “When you see the bus stop open to the sea.” This work-around has served over 800 students plenty well. ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
But once a week for some months now there’ve been strange sounds coming from the class area next to my marimba. Linda’s taking Italian, and she’s a super excellent ... by Eric, Apr/14/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
“Huh? Oh Hi! Wow…” We’re in Flagstaff visiting our son. (And getting a little R and R for ourselves.) Talia is a chief at a resort hotel at the Grand Canyon. Linda and I stopped in a small shopping mall to buy a larger suitcase to bring back a bunch of books for school. So, two of us; one of the somewhere between 800 and 900 who’ve studied with us ... by Eric, Apr/11/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
A couple of blocks down the street I found a three part extension. I was awestruck. I don’t want to bias ... by Eric, Mar/14/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Up from behind our neighbor’s wall popped a head, then shoulders, and more and more moving upward. It’s an engineering thing—were the tie connectors sufficiently stout, were they tied in a super strong twist, were… were… were…? I held my breath. Relaxed as could be, he started ... by Eric, Feb/28/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
My first quick look reminded me of a concrete footing ready for the bricklayer to lay up a block wall. It looked like it would blow tires ... by Eric, Feb/27/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The library, a librarian would say, just grew by 35 titles. But we know better—we know that the library just grew by 35 happy, happy memory makers. Our thanks to Nora yet again. The library has been lucky enough to have many children’s books on the shelves that Nora donated on two prior trips down. And now we have even many more. In order to assure that the books in Spanish are actually in good Spanish, I told Linda ... by Eric, Feb/19/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It’s simple as can be. Our buses just aren’t ... by Eric, Jan/31/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Learning Danzon, a beautiful but very complicate dance, requires a good teacher and practice in a studio. In not too much time you’ll have the basics. But the studio, the best beginning point, isn’t where Danzon belongs. It’s as much a part of the cultural of Veracruz as is Son Jaracho and Ballet Folklorico. The zocalo is where Danzon belongs—outdoors, in the cool evening sea breeze, under the stars, surrounded by admiring viewers. And Danzon should not be danced to a stereo. It needs live music with its full and fresh sound, its variety, and its quirks. Small bands and skilled couples bring the flow of music and movement to the zocalo—to the dance floor. Maybe you’re not yet ready to go public? Maybe you feel ... by Eric, Jan/30/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It’s an address in the US where we can receive donated books. The problem has been that it’s just way too expensive to mail books from the U.S. to Veracruz. But now it’s going to be just like mailing then to a friend—third class, book rate, low cost postage. Our books-in-English-lending-library is a free public service ... by Eric, Jan/23/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
What makes this hat super cool is that it says 100% JAR-8. Say it out loud and it’s One hundred percent JAR Ocho. Pull it together and it’s one hundred percent Jarocho, the people of Veracruz. “Too slick for words,” you affirm. “Cooler than cool,” you effuse. You’re right! And I have the ... by Eric, Jan/18/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Jeff set his father-in-law’s camera on the counter. Purchase in hand (but not the camera) they walked out. On vacation a missing camera is soon noticed. A couple of hours later they were ... by Eric, Jan/17/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Ugliness has overtaken so much of the conversation in America. And racism is increasing so terribly. We support immigration reform. We weep about the hell along the border that exists because Americans buy illegal drugs. We understand the imperative of teaching children in a language they understand. We stand firm with the founding fathers insisting on the separation of church and state. We know more about Mexico than do most Americans. We know wonderful truths about the people of Mexico, truths that need to help guide America’s view. We will make ourselves heard. We will push (as much as two worried private citizens have the power to do) to move America to a much better, more decent place than this to which it has sunk. And, of course, we ask that you also help America. by Eric and Linda, Jan/9/2011 |
We moved our books-in-English-lending-library to the dining hall. It has more space. It’s closer to the coffee pot. It has more tables. It’s more accessible. We also have two university students publicizing the library. They are going all over town visiting English classes in schools and colleges, and they are distributing literature. Ron Wilson runs the library on Saturdays. Here he is with his daughter Amanda. By having native English speakers in the library, we double ... by Eric, Jan/08/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
A year and a few months ago years ago we went to Chiapas for three weeks. It was absolutely wonderful. And then, we were so happy to be back in Veracruz. A year ago we went to ... by Eric, Jan/02/2011 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
The young fellow saw a beautiful, rust colored, fancy ... by Eric, Dec/31/2010 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
My newly acquired perspective (gained, as you might guess, down at the zocalo) makes all of these old-fashioned solutions look terribly unimaginative. Here’s the ultimate, ... by Eric, Dec/28/2010 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
It’s not against the law, of course, but it is totally contrary to school policy. We were between a rock and a hard spot. Linda saved the day by doing what every good mom knows to do. We had an UN ... by Eric, Dec/21/2010 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
And we don’t have “ice and snow” but we do have a delicious ice cream called nieve. We don’t have Crosby singing “White Christmas,” but right here today ... by Eric, Dec/17/2010 ---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
---Click Here to Continue with blog--- |
Veracruz--sitting right on the ocean's sandy beaches and just 80 miles, as the crow flies, from North America's third highest mountain peak..
Veracruz is one of the world's safest cities.
Contact us:
info@veracruzspanish.com
Spam guard is a problem. If our reply isn't in your inbox promptly,
please look in your spam or email us again.
Phone:
Our U.S. number is (415) 939-4388. This is a San Francisco number that rings right through to us in
Veracruz.
The Language Immersion School
Calle Alacio Pérez #61
Col. R. Flores Magón
Veracruz, Ver. Mexico
C.P. 91900
Within Mexico(229) 931-4716
Within Mexico Cellular (229) 207-1929