O.K., the Spanish is a little rusty, but that’s what I hope to fix during an upcoming visit to Argentina. I just enrolled in a two week intensive language course in Buenos Aires that starts in mid March. I’ll spend another two weeks touring the Country to use what I learn.  Since speaking English was my stock in trade for so many years, it should be humbling to see the impatience in people’s eyes as I struggle to get directions to the biblioteca. I’ve always admired anyone bilingual (except Hitler who spoke German and French).

The question is, how much harder will it be for my 50 something year old brain to learn a new language?  We all know kids pick it up more quickly than adults, but that’s partly because they approach the challenge more openly and without the fear of failure we adults are burdened with.   My strategy will be to get really annoyed with anyone who doesn’t understand my Spanish. And make friends.

This is a sample page of an assessment test the Spanish school wants me to fill out.  I think they’re going to start me in the neo-natal program.