¡Hasta luego Mexico!

Plan your trip to Mexico now--it´s safe, it´s cheap, and they need the tourism!

I am feeling a bit sad about leaving Mexico, and Oaxaca in particular.  Funny how we all have certain places where we feel at home, even though they´re not home.  In order to lighten things up, I thought I´d share some of my most humiliating exchanges in Spanish, translated into English for your enjoyment. 

• Baker:  How do you like Puebla?
• Rachel:  It is, isn´t it?
• Helpful friend:  He´s asking you if you like Puebla.
• Rachel (smiling inanely):  Oh, yes.  (interminable pause)  Good!

This one was with a renowned chef in Oaxaca and came from my not paying attention to verb conjugation…or basic manners:

• Chef:  I had the chance to visit Veracruz…
• Rachel (interrupting excitedly):  No, I haven´t gone yet!
• Chef:  No, I went to Veracruz.  Me.  Anyway….

And my final (I hope) triumph was this morning, with my innkeeper:

• Innkeeper:  Wow, your Spanish has improved so much during your time in Mexico.
• Rachel (modestly):  Oh, no.  I can understand a lot but I still can´t speak well.
• Innkeeper:  Well, you can return to Mexico again.
• Rachel:  Tomorrow morning.
• Innkeeper:  No, I said you can return to Mexico to study Spanish more.
• Rachel:  Yes, that´s a good idea.

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