This trip has revived my Spanish, not as much as I would have liked to, but enough to want to pursue it. I learned Spanish before English, and I was once much more fluent. 25 years later my brain is not the thirsty sponge it used to be, but I still love the language. I like to listen to people chatting, and the Yucatan accent is very pleasant. A slower pace, with lots of tonal accents, very musical. And of course there are words that I like particularly. Like 'mariposa' (butterfly), just for it's softness. Or the verb 'esperar' (to wait), which is a relative to the French word 'espérer' (to hope). Because to wait is also to hope for something. I find this very poetic, and suddenly waiting is not so bad anymore.
When I was teaching in Majahual I learned the word 'pañoleta' (kerchief or scarf), when I had the children dancing around with light scarves. It was quite magical and the word inspired a little song in 6/8, which fits the rhythm of this bouncy word (3 eight notes and one dotted quarter note for pa-ño-le-ta..). I will always associate this word with children dancing.
There is also the word 'bodega' (pantry or cellar), a word that I find sounds so grave and serious to designate such a simple thing. Suddenly, it makes the pantry sound like a suspicious place, hiding some dark secret. 'Where is the broom honey?' 'In the BO-DE-GA... wa ha ha!' It make me want to designate one in our house when we go back, just for the kick of having to say it once in awhile.
And then there are the food words. Like 'Poc Chuc' (marinated pork filets), which is said in two very short sounds, almost as if you don't pronounce the vowels. And so many others.
This is a very colourful language, and I love to speak it and exchange with people here. What a real treat!
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