working on it in keeping it postive

I started to learn Spanish in the 9th grade. There were various groups of people in the neighborhood from the Caribbean - Puerto Ricans, Cubans and people from the Dominican Republic, Dominicans. The Cubans and Dominicans arrived due to political unrest in their countries. I was curious… I wanted to know what people were saying.

I did VERY well in the classes in both high school and college. AND all the jobs I had as an adult were due to my bi-lingual ability. At Social Security, I learned a WHOLE new vocabulary. This was also true when I taught physics and earth science. Now at the courts I have more new words to learn - job specific.

Although I can carry on a conversation on various topics, reading in Spanish has never been something I’ve chosen to do. Over the years, I’ve picked up various magazines - GeoMundo; Muy Interesante. Through the pictures, blurbs and short articles, I learned about science and anthropology around the world by reading these magazines. Lately, I’ve been reading People in Espanol having received a subscription (when I am done I leave it for the regular interpreter at my job).

Lately I’ve decided to try books. I read for pleasure and even though I’ve spoken Spanish for most of my life, reading is still NOT pleasurable. I’m pushing through it and find it’s getting easier.