Why did I choose this course?

I chose this course for many reasons: travel, improving

my Spanish, and learning more about myself. I have always loved traveling ever since I was a

little kid. Seeing new places having fun and gaining exciting experiences and memories has

always been a love of mine. So when I found out that my Spanish class was going to Mexico I

was very excited! I was expecting to see a new part of the world and to have a lot of fun with my

friends and my Caroline and get to improve my Spanish speaking skills. But now that I have

experienced this newly gained memory I realize that I have gained so much more than my

previous expectations. I now can understand and speak more Spanish than I had been able to

previously. I also I have also learned more about myself knowing how to stay present and enjoy

this exact moment in time and also what makes me understand and remember Spanish. How I

feel I learned how to stay present within my own body and look at what is right in front of me

and not what’s going to happen by waking up early taking time to myself and even sitting down

outside feeling my body and the energy flow threw out it and dressing my emotions and what's

good about right now.

What are my biggest successes? If I had to pick my biggest successes I would say that

my understanding capability when it comes to understanding Spanish is far better than when I

started this three-week block. When we were in Baja for the cooking class I was being talked to

and told what to do I felt like something clicked. I could get a general idea of what she was

telling me to do and how to do it. I also feel like it didn't just stop there because the Monday after

the cooking class we were at the school and I was having a conversation with one of the little

girls in Spanish just asking her the basics. Normally it takes me a minute or two to understand

what they are saying but it only took me a few seconds to understand what they were saying

and respond. So thats why I feel like my understanding capability is one of my biggest

successes. Another one of my biggest successes is the relationships that I have gained since

going to Mexico. I feel as if I have gained relationships with other students that I didn't think I
would ever have along with some relationships with teachers. I have gained these by swimming

in the ocean with new people and opening up to them along with swimming in the pool at night

with anyone else who wanted to go for a late-night swim. Also just by sitting in the van or the

SUV on the way to our many activities.

What are my next steps for language learning? My goal and next step for my language

learning is to take Spanish 4 next year. Im also hoping to do a year abroad in college in

Barcelona and to hopefully have Spanish-speaking roommates to talk to. Im also hoping to take

more trips to Spanish-speaking countries to practice speaking Spanish to locals and to immerse

myself in new cultures.