The locals were friendly, helpful and accommodating while they shared their rich mixture of cultural heritage which is a mixture of Spanish and Native American influences. The school’s teaching methodology of theory (individualized instruction) and application (out and about speaking Spanish in the community) and wonderful sight seeing excursions were quite helpful with significantly increasing our Spanish speaking ability. Also, very helpful for our understanding, was that the people of Veracruz spoke more clearly and softly than in other parts of Mexico that we have visited. It was an experience we wish to repeat again. by Kelly, July/02/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Your environment is ideal for the learning process. A big part of what makes it so fruitful is that you guys take care of all the logistics (i.e. laundry) so that we can focus on just learning. The multifaceted approach of class, field trips, mealtime and sofa time chat keeps it interesting. Another great strength of your program is the willingness to personalize the teaching for the individual’s needs and wants. For instance, when a certain approach wasn’t working for me, you brainstormed for a new tact that was effective. As a person who has been formally learning for more years than most people, I can confidently tell you that my experience with the school is among the best learning experiences of my life. I only wish that I had had a continuous 6-8 week block to keep building upon. Both Barbara and I plan on returning. I want to have a broader, more comprehensive base before I do though. We’ll see….. One request…please say hi to Ceci for me and pass on my regrets that I didn’t get to say goodbye to my main maestra. I truly appreciate her teaching. We had great times just talking {in Spanish} and laughing on our outings. I’m a huge fan, but you know that. Stay in touch & be well, by Elan, June/24/08 ---return to blog page--- |
But by looking around, you can find delicious seafood at reasonable prices. And to us these restaurants are priceless. One is where the alligator lives. That’s two blocks away. On fieldtrip day, there’s a great little restaurant at La Mancha, and also at Villa Rica Beach (also a fieldtrip) you’ll find one.  A block in and three to the left is how to get to another. We walked past it for two years saying to ourselves that we should give it a try some day. We should have tried it the day it opened!
 They do a spectacular job with fish. We saw a couple of Robalo being severed yesterday that could almost make you drool.
For us it’s the shrimp, and yesterday brochetas de camarón were unbeatable. by Eric, June/24/08 ---return to blog page--- |
A ceremony is performed, a oath is sworn, and the graduate is titled. A chemistry major becomes Quimico, a physicist becomes Fisico, an accountant becomes Contador. If you’re a liberal arts major you become a Licenciado(a). Paola, yesterday, left school at lunch to go to the University and there, amongst family and friends, she swore her oath. Today she came to work smiling all over. Since we have almost no titles, it’s hard for us to understand the cultural significance. But here in Mexican culture, titles are a very, very big deal!!!! A titulo (a title) is the key to a successful future. 
Licenciada Paola may leave us in September, and even leave Mexico. She’s making plans to go to Spain to do a master’s. It will be wonderful for her and invaluable for her career. (And once again we’ll sadly and happily lose a great employee to a better job and a great future.) by Eric, June/23/08 ---return to blog page--- |
To be able to live in a comfortable room in the same location as the school was not only very convenient, but allowed all the students many more opportunities to interact and speak in Spanish with your excellent staff. I also appreciated the personal approach you had with each student, informally evaluating the level of our knowledge and experience of the language, then providing the teachers who could best assist us to move forward. Having small classes of no more than three students {the over-sized grouping of three was at the students' request--note by Eric} was also a major benefit, affording us more time to interact with the teacher and other learners. In the second week, you were a great help in teaching me and two other students the subjunctive tense, one that I previously had great fear in learning. You opened the door and now I know, with additional study in Santa Fe, that I can master it at last. The trips around the city and region with the charlantes were also a joy and very educational. To be able to talk with a native speaker (even though a dictionary was necessary at times!) was a highlight for me, not only in making me feel more comfortable speaking Spanish, but also learning so much about the rich history and culture of this special place. And how can I not mention the delicious food your talented staff provided to us? And the free laundry service? And the air conditioning? And the free medicine? And so much more? In brief, your school is a model that I hope other immersion schools will emulate. I plan to sing your praises with the Spanish Language Department at the Community College. I hope the next group of 24 students who will be taking a summer course in Mexico next year can take it here. I certainly plan to return. With Best Wishes and Abrazos! Helen Helfer Sociology Professor Santa Fe Community College by Helen, June/22/08 ---return to blog page--- |
And they’re right. That’s why we picked it up for our busy season. For walkers it’s a joy. It’s a few blocks closer to the inner seawall, the main part of the malecon, and the zocalo than are the school’s main buildings. But as always in life there are trade-offs. Its overall bus service isn’t quite as good, the corner store is not nearly as good, and it’s farther from the restaurants across from the beach and along the boulevard. Here’s the first group, the no-budge group—now known as the infamous Hernandez House Gang. 
Here or there, both locations are wonderful. Wonderful locations in a wonderful city, we couldn’t ask for more. by Eric, June/19/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Our thanks to all who have contributed. We appreciate the wonderful comments, and we enjoy sharing the happiness. Blogs from those who’ve studied with us help us offer a much fuller view of just who we (the school) are and what school’s like. Now long ago, in my school days writing a 5 paragraph essay was taxing. Today writing about Veracruz is easy as pie. As one grows older one does see more when one looks at the world, and that’s made writing flow more freely. But the really big change (from long ago ‘til now) is the subject matter. So many wonderful things go on around the school and around the city that there’s always something to talk about. Veracruz—a wonderful place to blog about, a wonderful place to study Spanish, and for Linda and me, a wonderful life. by Eric, June/19/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Saturday we lost Carlos. He graduated from Mexico’s Merchant Marine Academy. He’s off to the high seas. His girlfriend’s heart (she’s from Tennessee) is broken. 
His job is one of the best starting jobs any graduate will have. A Chilean shipping firm held an employment competition. The competition was open to all at the Academy and was based on comprehensive testing (including English). Carlos came in first. So we’ve lost big—lost a great employee to a terrific job. But we’ve won big because his success makes us so very happy. by Eric, June/18/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Each year, to celebrate this vibrant cultural contribution, the Instituto Veracruzano de la Cultura hosts the Afro-Caribbean International Festival. Music, dance, art, photos and video, scholarly investigation, and fun run for six days. The best known piece of Veracruz music is La Bamba (an old song, but a hit in the US on the top 40 charts by Ritchie Valens back in ’58). This year the Festival is dedicated to Gonzalo Aguirre Beltran, 1908-1996. He was an anthropologist known for his studies of groups left living on the fringes of society. Much of his work looked at Afro-Caribbean groups in Mexico and Afro-Mexicans. We’re on our way to learning more about him and his work. Mexico, in many ways, has done a very good job with race relations. Maybe Dr. Aguirre Beltran’s work has important things to tell us. The research will be very easy, easy because of “It’s a Small Small World.” His granddaughter, we found out last week, is our good friend, Dr. Olga. by Eric, June/17/08 ---return to blog page--- |
We stayed with Olga's Aunt (We call her Olga "Primera") who was a superb hostess, and we learned a great deal about life in that town. We had a "real" Mexican breakfast and tried many native foods (with no problems at all). The house is magnificent. Olga "segunda" drove us and served as a guide to the coffee plantation and the bamboo plantation. We had no idea there were so many kinds of bamboo and that they could be used for everything from floors to clothes. Olga is a great teacher, translator and guide. She gave us each a list to use at the market and successfully buying her groceries was a confidence building experience. Together with her Aunt, other relatives and her friends we felt we had had a true experience of life in a very impressive Mexican town. I have several pictures, including one with the family and the other with "mis amigos" at the market. 
The children gathered around and were not asking for anything. They were children like all children and were just fascinated in talking to someone new and different. by Gary and Sheila, June/11/08 ---return to blog page--- |
The Hernandez House is our third building. It’s closest to the seawall and the harbor. It's right across the street from the Yacht Club. Linda and I’ve been there for three weeks. Immediately next door are our good friends, Scubaver. From the front gate to the bus (or taxi) is 4 steps. Its location is incredible. It’s closer to El Centro and the zocalo than are #61 and #57 (our other two houses). Like #61 and #57, it’s half a block from the water’s edge. Miguel is staying there now. Angelica’s there afternoons and into the night while Miguel’s attending his classes at the University. (And for awhile, we’ll be back in #61.) Here are a few views of Hernandez.  
Summer and winter are the busy times for immersion, and all three houses will be full. by Eric, June/07/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Five young women, graduate students from Taiwan, dropped by. We talked about planning for “responsible tourism.” It’s not a term I’d heard before, but I like the sound of it. Near Shangri-la they’re helping a Nomadic people move from an economy resulting in deforestation to one offering cultural and eco tourism. They’re designing a university campus in Kyrgyzstan. There are extremely delicate cultural and religious issues to be handled along with the design process. Through an educational program for the Tayal tribe of Taiwan’s original inhabitants (actually their descendents, of course) they’re helping to revitalize the old culture. The group is here in Veracruz to present a paper at Edra29.  The young women are very interested in responsible tourism in the undiscovered and pristine State of Veracruz, and they have the same question that we have. How can the state develop tourism that actually helps the locals and provides that help in “responsible” (my new term) ways? Even without the new term, our school’s been involved in this in little ways for three years now. Just lately we’ve found ourselves at the front end of a larger project—we’re looking at bringing foreigners to town for responsible-eco-tourism activity on the Veracruz Coral Reef System (Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano). We applaud these young woman. We admire what they’re doing. And they’ve shown us what our project needs—we need some graduate students. by Eric, May/31/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Our thanks to Miguel. He’s a trooper if ever there was one. He’s a terrific student (university), and he’s a fine craftsman. This is Mexico and starting with the very first floor penetration we encountered hidden conditions that made the job a nightmare—extra thick concrete almost everywhere we had to drill, beams the didn’t seem to belong where they were, extra deep main house drain line, different outside diameters of the same-size drain pipe, and the list goes on and on. But here’s what Miguel and his super expert helper (I mention humbly) did.  A few blogs down the page, you can see the “before” photo. No only is Miguel a great guy who’s great to have around; he’s great for the school. And now we’re already planning bathroom number 16. Don’t tell him. by Eric, May/27/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Never in all my schooling years have I ever made such a wonderful choice. To me, school has always been about work. This Immersion course that Mrs. Linda & Mr. Erick Langner created has changed my opinion of the learning institutions of the world. You will never find a more relaxing atmosphere to learn. The open attitude and willingness to help cannot be mastered more perfectly than what these two wonderful people have put together. Mrs. Linda is probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She teaches and she has Incorporated Spanish speaking natives as teachers. The teachers are regular folks just like you and I. Mixed with small two hour class sessions you have outing with one of the teachers each day. You get to learn how to take the bus to the museum, how to get to find what you want to eat, where to shop and just a real feel for Mexico. It's like being on a vacation with a guide that just so happens to be your teacher. You walk around in the beautiful city of Veracruz learning the history of the city, the people and how to speak to the people you meet on the street. It's just unbelievable how rewarding it is to have a stranger in another country understand what you are trying to say. I believe that this is part of the success of this school. Because of your interactions you desire to communicate better. With the teachers help you hear the correct pronunciation of the words. Then you keep trying until you get it right. This makes you learn without even realizing that you are learning. If you desire to learn the Spanish culture and the Spanish language, than I'm here to tell you there is no better place to do it. by Mead D., May /26/08 ---return to blog page--- |
The reports are true -- we learned a lot! {Eric’s note--And Bob and Amy were here for only a short week!} On our unexpected extra night in DF we met up with a friend for dinner -- and it felt strange talking to him in English! (So we switched back to Spanglish). Amy and I were both much better able to understand native speakers, even those speaking at a more or less normal rate, and we both advanced in our ability to express ourselves in Spanish -- Amy in the present tense and a little in the past tense, and I in the subjunctive mood. It's obvious that you hire your staff based on their personalities. They're great conversationalists, gracious hosts, and a lot of fun! Thank you for them! by Bob and Ami L., May/20/08 ---return to blog page--- |
But now I know what you’d do in Veracruz. The way around this monster of a problem is to “talk softly and carry a big megaphone.”  Standing in front of the departures area, and aiming his megaphone at the arrivals area, this young man kept everyone well-appraised of what was up (and what wasn’t, of course). His megaphone was clearer and less distorted than the airport’s PA system. It wasn’t as loud, but it was far easier to understand. I liked it. Low tech, often the better answer to high tech problems. by Eric, May/19/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Three young women are with us right now. They are finishing up their MBAs at Harvard this semester. They’re headed for great jobs. They have tremendous ability, and their futures will be fantastic.  We’d be happy for this probably-never-again-event to happen over and over again. We’re proud they’re here. But even more, we’re proud of them and their world-class achievement. by Eric, May/13/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Then adding the old spacious house next door to our old spacious original house, we added another six. All of them, as I immodestly talked about once before, are paper-flushable. (This means NO foul trash can next to the toilet as is so common in Latin America.) But still the question—what do you do? You call Rafael Bernabe. He lives in a pueblo in the State of Puebla. He is a master craftsman—he’s an artist in concrete, brick, plaster, and all such trades. He built our new bathroom. What do you do when Rafael can’t come to town for at least two months? Our answer is we’re glad that his son, Miguel, is living with us. Miguel is a university student studying engineering on a full tuition, room and board scholarship. He’s well trained by his father. Today I’m his helper and will be for a week or so to come.  Yes, we’re building another bathroom. I needed to take a break. My back is sore and my hands are sore—and Miguel is going strong. I used to take five, then ten. I’m taking fifteen, and then I’ll be back in there, back as a fine young man’s helper. by Eric, May/02/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Being there—seeing it and riding it, is fantastic, and it all can be done solely in English. But if you only speak English, even with English speaking guides, there’s so much you miss. In addition to the canal itself, we took a couple of tours around the area. There was an English-only speaker with us. He got the facts. We got the facts and far, far more. We got to participate in the culture and visit with the people. As our bed and breakfast owner said, in a Latin country if you speak Spanish, “You taste much more everything.” And I don’t know any better way to put it. P.S. We stayed at Patty’s Casitas (www.pattyscasitas.com), and it was wonderful. by Eric, Apr/30/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Not the sound of flatware clanging, but the sound of talking, lots of talking. Talking in Spanish—and laughing and having fun. Language getting developed.  We hear it all the time, of course. And we love it. Good food, good friends, good charlantes and instructors, it makes for lots of learning. Beginners to advanced, nobody’s worried about making mistakes. Nobody’s self-conscious. Everybody’s in it together. What a job we have, Linda and I—sitting around, having fun, talking to friends, and, very special to us, having the joy of listening to everyone’s Spanish grow. by Eric, Apr/03/08 ---return to blog page--- |
After a quick and easy 90-minute bus ride, I took a taxi to the lovely central plaza. I found a clean, green park and some beautiful government buildings. My sweet little hotel (Posada Cafeta) was a short walk away on a winding street of colorful, balconied buildings. First I visited the world-class Archeology Museum and spent hours there looking, reading and drawing the wonderful stone and clay sculptures. In the evening, I went to a play at the college put on in a minimalist theater, but it was very Mexican with its story and music. I had found the play on a poster, then in the newspaper, and then asked a waiter for info. He quickly called over his boss, who knew the main actor! At that moment, Xalapa felt like a small town. In the morning, I saw that the newspaper headlines read FRIO! FRIO! FRIO! Coming from Wisconsin, I knew it was cold, but I had no idea I had just survived their coldest day in 20 years! I felt like maybe I could comfortably live in Xalapa, or at least visit for much longer than just a weekend! by Renee, Mar/31/08 ---return to blog page--- |
I’m talking about a great class experience with a bright 12 year old, a great experience that just happened. We were doing class at the conference table in our office. We had, just by chance, our ziplock baggies of change (Peso coins) on the table. To have a few minutes of numbers practice, the money bags looked inviting. Just how high can you pile it on? Counting by ten-Peso pieces, five-Peso pieces, and ones and twos, we ran an experiment. Remember, this experiment required counting coin by coin (super practice). Well, life was still pretty stable, even though a little wobbly, to this point—  He kept counting and piling on, and the moment came. The bright young student added a two-Peso piece—and...  So now you know. We can pile Spanish on all day long, and you get to cry “Uncle” whenever you’ve had your daily limit. But when it comes to Pesos, going from 620 Pesos to 622 Pesos is where the world comes crashing down. by Eric, Mar/27/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Every day found us fully engaged with the culture, the people, and the language of Veracruz Mexico. I had visions of sitting in my room memorizing long lists of new words. This never happened because I was too busy using them from breakfast to bedtime! By the end of two weeks, my wife, who had flunked Spanish in High School, was chatting like a native. I was so proud of her!   One evening our adventure took an interesting direction. Tina and I went out on the town with Ed, a fellow student, his seeing-eye dog Abbott, and his wife Morgan. We ended up at a famous restaurant called “Parroquia” near the Malecon waterfront. Guide dogs are very rare in Veracruz. There are no laws requiring establishments to admit them. I walked into the restaurant and Ed ordered Abbot, his very large German Shepherd, to follow me. Ed and Abbott immediately drew incredulous stares from the patrons and waiters, but the natural courtesy and amiability of the people prevailed and no one objected. Ed, Abbott and I were in the men’s room when the security guard rushed in, shouting “is there a dog in here?” Just that day I had learned the word for guide dog in Spanish. “It’s Ok”, I said, “perro guia.” The security guard looked embarrassed and said “Ah! Esta bien! No problema!” Later, when we were leaving the restaurant, the same security guard took it upon himself to flag down a taxi for us. The final highlight of the evening occurred when the five of us piled into the little taxi like college students into a phone booth. Abbot climbed in on top of Ed, Morgan and Tina in the back seat. I climbed into the front seat and gave our destination to one very astonished driver. We had many more adventures during the three weeks we spent in Veracruz, including an eclipse of the moon and a trip up to the mountain town of Xalapa, in search of the folk music of ancient Mexico. Since these stories are too long to recount here, I would refer the reader to our website where there are many photos and descriptions of our adventure: www.Cincinnatiearlymusic.com/jarana.html. What started out as a simple trip to a language school turned into one of our best vacations ever! Eric and Linda, we’ll be back! by Larry, Mar/26/08 ---return to blog page--- |
The alarm clock on the nightstand was already set for 6:30; there was a bottle of drinking water on the dresser along with a printed schedule for week 1 and 4 pages explaining how things work at the school. There were fresh towels, a new bar of soap, a new box of kleenex and an unopened package of toilet paper. At 6:30 the next morning I found coffee ready to be poured and a bowl of fruit. I sat down on one of the extremely comfortable sofas and noticed a beautiful arrangement of freshly cut flowers to my left and another student on one of the internet computers to my right. At 7am Paula arrived and put out sweet rolls and freshly cut mangos, papaya, and watermelon. Then she cooked my eggs exactly the way I like them. The other students came downstairs carrying bags of dirty laundry. I soon discovered that these bags would be picked up before noon and returned clean the next day in individually wrapped packages. The day and the week continued in this fashion and I truly had the freedom to only think about my reason for being in Veracruz, learning Spanish. by Danielle, Mar/15/08 ---return to blog page--- |
The aisles were crowded around the fruit stands, and Ed’s Seeing Eye dog Abbott, a large German Shepherd, had to carve out a route for Ed. Ed was hand-inspecting unfamiliar fruits (“the Braille shopping method”), picking out pineapples for breakfast; the vendor came close to hand Ed unfamiliar fruits and say the names. He pointed to a Calabasas squash, said “Candy,” and handed us a hard-packed cone of what looked like brown sugar, from the Calabasas. Renee, who was with us and helping us with our new Spanish skills, said, “That’s the sugar that was in those cookies we ate yesterday in La Antiqua!” Who knew there was squash brown sugar? 
We bought 75 pesos of gorgeous fruit and were leaving, when the stand vendor called to Ed, gesturing us back: “Señor, aqui es un solucion natural para su cholesterol” (Well, that’s Spanglish approximation--we’re new to Spanish). Writing “Xoconostle” on an index card, he indicated that this was the name of the natural cholesterol-lowering drink he was about to show us how to make. Picking out a plum-sized cactus fruit, he drew a picture of an oval cactus ear, with a fruit attached on top, indicating the fruit is the Xoco nostle. When a somewhat gorda customer cleared her throat to indicate she was waiting to be served, he didn’t look up from his recipe, just gave a “shoo shoo” motion to indicate she should go to another stand! From the top row of his stand he now chose a fresh green cactus ear like the one he had drawn, setting that on his cutting board beside the Xoco nostle. Then he carefully printed the recipe, saying aloud as he wrote: XOCONOSTLE 1 Xoco nostle 1 Nopal cactus (one “ear”) 3 naranjas (peeled & seeded) He gestured to slice the Nopal ear with a big knife, slicing it as he gestured, and adding the slices to the pile, along with 3 fresh oranges. Tossing everything into a plastic bag along with the recipe and twisting the top into a knot, he indicated we were to put everything in the blender, blend it, and drink some of the juice daily at desayuno, to help with high cholesterol. “Natural!” he said again. When I tried to pay for this, he grinned and waved us on our way, saying, “Gratis!” We kind of backed out of the aisle, saying “Muchas gracias, muchas gracias,” the fruit vendor calling “De nada, de nada,” everybody grinning at everybody else. This lovely man personifies for both of us the people we have met here in Veracruz---including and especially the staff at la escuela. Muchas gracias. (Watching an 85 pound German Shepherd backing up El Mercado to lead Ed outside is not to be missed.) by Morgan, Mar/14/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Earlier in the day it was prettier riding the “Boca” bus all the way to the end and back. It was prettier walking the beach with Linda, and even just wandering around the neighborhood for exercise. Cataract surgery, my second and so last one, is all over. I see a clearer, brighter world. And the healing is almost complete. Yesterday, finally, I set out as my regular self and began doing my favorite things. Veracruz is wonderful. Today, in another hour or two, I’ll be out around town again. First thing out the door I going to go see Gracias (our boat). She’s floating again. She spent a month on the bottom of the ocean, and there wasn’t much I could do about it. Jiniguaro and the fisherman gave up waiting for me and surfaced her. And after seeing Gracias, maybe for the first time in months I’ll walk the seawall. And then what will I do? I don’t know. I’ll just have to play it by…………eye. by Eric, Mar/13/08 ---return to blog page--- |
The even better news is that here in Veracruz there are many first rate, high quality, well and fully trained, US quality, skilled doctors. Many have studied in the US, Europe, and Canada. Many speak English. It’s fair to ask, “Why in Veracruz?” The answer has nothing to do with medicine, it has to do with safety. Most of these very high quality doc’s have come here because of their families. Mexico City is the intellectual center for medical studies, but it’s dangerous. Veracruz is the place where they can practice and not be worried about their kids getting home safely from school. Highly competent medicine--we need it because we live here year around. And should you need it, together we’ll just hop in a taxi… by Eric, Feb/11/08 ---return to blog page--- |
Before {at the other schools}, living with a family was really more like being with shy very nice people. Not knowing enough Spanish, there was virtually no communication other than trying to let them know what I needed to eat. Then I would be in school for 4 hrs, and then usually on my own after that, unless there was some sort of event planned. What is different at this school, and I applaud them greatly, is that everyone at the school is willing and trying to teach, and help you with your Spanish. At breakfast, Paula would start the day with Spanish. As the instructors arrive they join in at the table and speak Spanish. Then 2 hours of one on one, then two hours of out and about (with a teacher). Then back to the school for lunch and you guessed it more Spanish. After lunch I got a 2 hours break, and then from 3 to 5 one on one for Spanish. Then in the evening there is always a Spanish speaker available to practice with in the living room. (this was daily) If this is too intense you simply choose to go out for the evening and enjoy Veracruz. The accommodations are great, the food is good, and there is always fresh fruit available for snacks. The instructors are excellent, and you usually have two different instructors. At least I did, one in the mornings and a different one in the afternoon. I liked this very much. The owners of the school are terrific. There is no way I can say enough about Linda and Eric. There is plenty to see and do. So was there a down side, sure. The weather is hot and humid. The school has ceiling fans plus AC. I happen to thrive in cooler weather, so it was a problem for me as far as sleeping. Anything else, not really. You will leave the school with as much Spanish as you want to take in and learn. You will enjoy all the staff, and the owners. You will have memories that you will share and think about for a long time. This was the best school I have experienced. Thanks all of you for making a wonderful memory for me. I love you all. by Jerry, Jan/21/08 ---return to blog page--- |
It’s because Carnaval is coming. It’s early this year. It’ll be here at the end of the month. 
At this moment bleachers are being assembled on both sides of the northbound lanes of the boulevard, banners are being mounted, lights are being strung, dance groups ( several hundred people in size) are practicing in the colonias (in the neighborhoods), gorgeous floats are being built, and even the tugboats are being spruced up. We’re in the time of the winter winds. Likely there’ll be wind during at least one of the six spectacular Carnaval parades. Carnaval is for fun. It’s an incredible party (but here in Veracruz, of course, it’s a family party). None of us, the millions who’ll sit in the bleachers and see the parades, want anyone to get hurt. Wind can be almost as good as monkeys at bringing coconuts down. The serious business of coconut cutting will end soon and the serious fun of Carnaval will begin. Veracruz knows how to throw a party. And, just so you'll know I'm on the up and up, look below—a coconut caught red-handed. 
by Eric, Jan/19/08
---return to blog page--- |
What happens when you take a 53-year-old introverted, retired pediatrician who is passionate about learning Spanish but has been frustrated by poor comprehensive and oral skills and plop her into a unique Spanish immersion environment? An experience of a lifetime! In June 2007, I had the privilege of spending 3 weeks at Eric and Linda’s Spanish Immersion School. Several years ago, I did a 3-week homestay immersion program in Cuernavaca and 2 years ago, I did a 1-week Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica where I took lodging at the school (dormitory style). Eric and Linda’s School is by far the best experience I have had. Their unique immersion program is sheer brilliance. The balance of small classroom instruction and 2 hour outings with your teachers or charlantes is the perfect educational opportunity to improve one’s Spanish. The school is also their home. The first floor has several classroom areas as well as a kitchen and living room where charlantes are always willing to sit and talk in Spanish. When you want privacy, you simply go up the stairs to your own room. If I had wanted to, I could have been speaking Spanish from 8am-9pm and occasionally I did! Eric and Linda’s immersion school concept is brilliant: morning classroom instruction followed by a 2-hour excursion somewhere in town with a charlante. We rode buses, took taxis, and visited museums, colorful marketplaces, libraries, beaches and more. All the time, the conversation took place in Spanish in real time! The teachers also sit and eat breakfast and lunch with the students so this is another opportunity to speak Spanish. In the afternoons after class, I wandered the city streets, the boardwalk or watched folk dancers at the zocalo. I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe even though I was usually the only lily-white turista around! I worried a lot about the summer heat and humidity (I am a wimp) but the school and bedrooms were air-conditioned and the temperature was just right for late afternoon and evening walks. Part of the fun was talking with an eclectic group of fellow students. Folks of all ages and walks of life would come and stay for one or several weeks. Families with children from ages 9-17 were having the time of their lives. One image I will never forget is the day a father and his 17-year-old daughter returned from a city outing and he had kind of a dazed smile on his face: his daughter was suddenly speaking like a native after 4 weeks in the immersion program. I was not the typical student in that I had a grant to write and bless Eric and Linda for thoughtfully having wireless Internet access 24-7. I am sure everyone thought I was crazy staying up late working on my grant but I had a great Spanish experience AND I got the grant! I continue to try to fit in Spanish conversation time but it is difficult once one reenters an English-speaking environment. This fall I took Spanish 320 Intensive Review of Grammar at the University of Oregon and received an A+. I would have never dared take this class without my wonderful experience in Veracruz. The teacher spoke 100% of the time in Spanish (Castilian!) and 90%+ of the students (30 years my junior) were bilingual. I’ll return to Eric and Linda’s wonderful program one day, but next time I’ll be bringing my 14 year old son. The program is just that good. by Terry, Jan/12/08 ---return to blog page--- |
What we do have is a coffee grinder. I’ve been a Folger’s regular grind person for years. I was always plenty happy, but… But freshly ground coffee from the new grinder makes a spectacular cup. Our thanks to John for finding one here in Veracruz. They’re not ubiquitious by any means. But he got one. So far I’ve had pay de limon, flan, and rosca de reyes with the new coffee. I’m a convert. 
Out thanks to John also for another reason. He’s here brushing up on his conversational skills. He needs them. He’s headed to Honduras to work in a free clinic. The last two years he’s been there performing orthopedic surgery and probably will be there for years to come. On behalf of all those he helps, we express our appreciation. And, of course, for the coffee grinder too! by Eric, Jan/11/08 ---return to blog page--- |
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:
Veracruz 011.52.229.931.4716
Tucson, AZ (520) 903-0574
The School's Mexico Address
The Language Immersion School
Calle Alacio Pérez #61
Col. R. Flores Magón
Veracruz, Ver. Mexico
C.P. 91900