Day Number One

I'm learning Spanish. Well, at least I am trying to. It's my first real attempt at a language after my native tongue English. Last year I did 3 months of intensive lessons in Ecuador. And now I am working in Zaragoza, Spain, for the next month or so.

I think my vocabulary is at an acceptable level. And, for now, I can read well enough, but when I speak or write in Spanish, I encounter problems. Years ago I started a blog to practise* my writing in English. So in that spirit I present** to you my debut blog entry.

This blog will hopefully give you news of my adventures 2 or 3 times a week. Not sure if I'll continue doing that. I'll endeavour to make it educational and entertaining. I'll do this by filling it with interesting insights and observations of the places I'll visit and the similarties, differences and subtleties of the two languages.

In English I can write well when the need arises. And I enjoy writing. So it's going to be a challenge and a frustrating task for me to write in Spanish knowing that I won't be able express myself as clearly. But I'll do my best to persist.

This entry, as you can see, is in both English and Spanish. I don't know yet if I'll write an English version. I imagine writing Spanish will influence how I write in English (eg I won't use a colourful expression in English if I don't know the equivalent in Spanish).

Finally, I encourage you (implore you, even) to point out errors***, make recommendations, tell me if expressions don't translate literally, and generally help my writing. This is a learning experience for me.

Thanks for your time.

*Note the British spelling for the verb form where the US use "practice" – the analogy to remember this is that one deviSes a device or gives adviSes when they give advice.

** Present is a wonderful example in English how the emphasis on the different syllabel can affect the meaning of the word. This, fortunately, doesn't ocurr in Spanish

*** In either language.