What a difference a year makes

Never a truer statement. I have been here for a year. My astute readers might argue that I actually arrived at the start of February in 2009, which is correct, but I say I really arrived in Chile with my trip to the vendimia (grape harvest) last year, where I met my first real Chilean friends. And as the title suggests, what a difference a year makes.

Last year the vendimia was a fantastic weekend away, but I didn't understand anything. I couldn't remember anyone's name as they all sounded so foreign to me, I didn't understand anything anyone was saying to me, I couldn't sing, I couldn't dance, and while people did their absolute best to include me I couldn't even figure out what the deal was with food. This year was completely different, the exact opposite. I have so many friends there, was never short on someone to talk to, understood what was going on, sang, danced, and of course worked. Sometimes I think I am making no progress at all, but it's not true. It is still hard work, but I can do it. For a change I am able to make the odd joke, instead of being the butt of the jokes and not really knowing why. (Of course sometimes I am still the butt of the jokes but that happens in English too).

So I will continue studying, as the light in my head has switched on and I can finally see what I am reading.