I am taking a class through one of the local municipality community centers, "Casas de Cultura", kind of like "Parks and Rec" classes in the States. I signed up to force myself into more Spanish-only situations because I recognize that my weakness right now is speaking. Or, more accurately, speaking on the fly without 10 minutes of preparation, my dictionary and notes. I become tongue-tied so easily. So I found a class that I thought would inspire the maximum amount of chit-chat for two hours, once a week: weaving on a loom.
The class is led by a friendly and eccentric lady who specializes in weaving and other fiber arts, and attended by 5 or 6 ladies who talk and laugh and discuss everything from their favorite brand of alfajores to new movies and political protests while setting up their looms and working on scarfs, ponchos, and shawls. There is always coffee or tea and snacks. I found out after my first couple of classes that I have more to learn than just practicing my conversation skills in Spanish. I have to kick myself to remember to kiss-greet every single person in the room when arriving AND when saying goodbye, and to try to slow down my productivity so I don't look like the overambitious yanqui perfectionist.
I am proud to report that after a month I have successfully completed my first bufanda, just in time for the warm Spring weather.
This crazy kid jumped into the picture - I don't know where he came from
My second scarf is almost completed, this time with a pata de gallo pattern using TWO colors:
Warning: this means I have joined the cult of yarn, a whole subsection of fiber arts and enticing yarn stores that I have intentionally avoided for years because I know I will become easily addicted. I am now addicted.
No comments:
Post a Comment