Boldly Go Solo

I reached out to the IMAC school in Guadalajara, Mexico, about taking Spanish lessons in the week before my travel writers conference begins in the city in early October. The classes are given weekly all year, starting on Mondays.

But I'll only have four days since the conference starts Thursday night.

No hay problema. Jaime, my contact at the school told me it was no problem and he priced a week minus a day. He included pick-up from the airport and a stay with a family. With classes, books, an enrollment fee and airport pick-up, it will cost about $300 for four days. For most everything except souvenirs.

The cost for lodging with a local family and all three meals is…ready for this…$56 for the four days. I don't know how much Spanish I'll learn but I'm excited about the idea of the cultural experience.

I have to fill out an enrollment form and I plan to ask to be placed with a family with children. I debated this.

On the one hand, if I stay with only adults, there might be more conversation and practice. But it's so much fun to meet children in other countries. So that's my choice. Let's see what I get.

In his email, Jaime expounded on the excitement he hopes I'll experience during my stay. This is what he wrote, grammar unchanged:

"The October Festival has come and brought with it an entire month of festivities! This is considered as one of the most important festivals in Mexico since it lasts for the entire month of October and gathers the most significant Mexican and international performers for daily concerts!

It begins with an enormous parade and ends with an incredible light parade that take place in the evening. All forms of plastic arts are also exhibited throughout various thematic exposes within the festival and cultural performances are on the daily itinerary. This festival provides our students with an open window into Mexican culture from all corners of the country!

Mechanical rides, extreme sports, and carnival games make this a very entertaining experience for people of all age! Mexican cuisine from every part of the country can be sampled in the various restaurants that gather within this festival or if a main course is not in your general plans you can simply taste the different variety of Mexican snacks that are also very delicious and traditional.

The premier soccer league in Mexico is heating up and regular weekend matches take place with any of the 3 premier league teams that call Guadalajara proudly their home town and bullfighting season is coming to a close."

Me again…I can't wait!