I have a confession to make: I ain't got any. What I do have instead is a loose plan... or maybe it's more of a project. I want to give my Portuguese a kick up the butt. It feels like I've been hovering at the threshold between upper intermediate and advanced forever and ever and what it needs now is a concerted push. I love that language.
To this end, I'll be spending virtually the entire month of March in Lisbon. I've booked myself into a language school to do an "extensive" course. Extensive as opposed to intensive - this means an hour and a half of classes two to three times a week. I'll be staying with someone who works at the school, so I should be able to get some conversation practice in a domestic setting, which is hard to come by in a classroom or when reading books.
I do have another agenda for this trip: I really like Lisbon and I'm considering re-locating there. So, this is going to be a bit of a recon mission, if you will. I've been to Lisbon only twice, and for very short durations. I have a couple of acquaintances there, but no "friends", no network. Nor do I know much about the "language scene" there. I've done a few web searches which haven't come up with anything useful, like book clubs or groups of people who meet up to practice languages. I'm thinking, though, that these must surely exist in a capital city. So, I'll have my research cut out when I get to Lisbon!
oh thank goodness. I was starting to worry about you! I agree that there must be language practice groups in Lisboa. I remember that you were interested in moving there. did you know anyone in Toledo when you moved there? I got the impression that you hadn't, so if that's true, I'm sure you'll get acclimated to Lisboa once you're there. Buena suerte y feliz año nuevo! (still having issues commenting here, grrrrr.....tobyo)
ReplyDeleteHi Toby! And a very happy New Year to you, too :)
DeleteI visited Toledo twice before moving there, having effectively created a "starter culture". Hoping to accomplish the same thing with Lisboa, but am trying not to get my expectations up too much. I'll see how the month goes... and maybe I'll go back for another month or so later on this year before making a decision.
Ah, this sounds exciting! And your work is something you can do anywhere, right? I will live vicariously through you as I do through Linda in Berlin. Short of my cats all dying at the same time and before I'm too old to enjoy international travel, I might never see the outside of the continental U.S. So please do write about your experiences in Lisbon :)
ReplyDeleteHello there and thanks for stopping by ;-) How many cats? I love them, but don't have any at the moment, coz there'd be nobody to look after them while I'm travelling.
DeleteWe have three cats and, yes, they are like balls-and-chain, but in fur :) I know we would travel more if we didn't have to always arrange for a petsitter, but we do enjoy their company. There's always one cat that gets my husband wrapped around her little paw ;) (Over the 26 years that we've had our home, we've cared for a total of 10 cats.)
DeleteOh stop! I so want one! Or ten ;-)
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