WHY would you want to do this?

In my first entry I wrote about all the little practical, timing and logistical concerns that make sense for us to go learn more Spanish right now but I didn’t really mention my underlying motivation. It was not until this question was put to me this way last week (by an adult this time, not by Elliott!) that I really thought about the “big why”: because speaking Spanish has opened so many doors for me.

My first trip overseas? To Spain as a 15 year old with the High School Spanish Club. Second trip: to Bolivia for a semester in college. That trip to Bolivia impacted so much: my ability to actually speak Spanish (one thing to know it, another to talk), my major in college, my direction for grad school, a year travelling after college, an internship in Costa Rica, Larry and I spending a year in Latin America. All of which led to my outreach work at the Downtown Clinic and most importantly to Susana’s adoption.

So naturally I want my kids to be a part of something so central to my life. Not to mention that I made a promise to Susana’s birthmother that I would make sure Susana learned Spanish so that they could communicate with each other.

It’s all that, plus knowing how much easier it is to learn language as children…and how fascinating it is to get to watch that happen.

So that’s why!

Back to packing--Karen