resolution countdown: día numero dos

quiero hablar español
holy grail of language learning, or just really good sales pitch?
image from rosettastone

i wish i could say that i busted out with that simple title phrase above on my own, but admittedly i had to get assistance from spanishdict (and it still might be wrong . . . feel free to correct me!).

if i had to make a top 10 list of major life mistakes, high on the list* would be the decision to take french in high school. my parents tried to convince me otherwise, but my reasoning at the time was clouded by:

a) what my friends were taking
b) what my crush was taking
c) what sounded ‘cooler’

no, my 12-year-old brain was not capable of looking ahead or making sound decisions . . . which does not really surprise me now that i work with adolescents on a regular basis!

i guess my poor language choice was better that getting knocked up and smoking laced pot behind the bleachers. but it still had consequences, which are as follows:

• i forgot all my french because i never got to use it (and didn’t learn it all that well in the first place)
• i can’t speak directly with a high proportion of my patients.

yes, duke treats a high percentage of spanish-speakers! people are always surprised about this, but NC has one of the fastest growing populations in the US (and i can see this directly when i work in the newborn nursery! some BIG families continuing to grow there).

luckily, we are equipped with some amazing interpreters which make communication go fairly smoothly. our outpatient clinic even has two on-site at all times! so while espanol would have come in handy during residency, it wasn’t ESSENTIAL.

the thing is: after allll the training (residency & fellowship) is over and done with, in 3.5 years, josh and i want to move to miami. and i would like to get a job in miami to put all of this training. i don’t know what the proportion of spanish-speaking-only patients is down there, but my guess is that it’s sky high. i’m actually worried that my monolingual tongue will make me less attractive to potential employers, not to mention slow and less effective at my job than a spanish-speaker.

i really doubt that i’ll reach fluency in 3.5 years, but i would really like to start learning in the hopes that someday i’ll be able to talk to patients sin interpeter . . . AND be able to understand all of the PA announcements at the miami airport.

i KNOW the best way to learn is to plunk down into a spanish-speaking country and just live there for months. but that’s not an option for me at this point in my life . . . so what to do? i will look into taking an actual spanish class during my research years when my schedule is more flexible. but for now, i think i’m going to be on my own. i’m considering trying out rosetta stone, but wow – $$$! if i USE it and it works, it will be worth it, but if not . . . ouch.

you all were so helpful with your skin recommendations that i’ll ask for input once again! anyone have experience learning a language as an adult? what did you use, and would you recommend it?

* i haven’t actually made such a list, but i can imagine it would be interesting. and depressing!

skin is in
thank you all for your helpful comments yesterday! i’ll post a run-down of your recommendations and the products i’m planning to try out sometime this week when i’m NOT running late for work.

off to the wards for the next 6 days of holiday coverage . . . i’m actually oddly looking forward to it. hospital pediatrics with no call, and 6 days off at the end? that is a holiday assignment to just embrace and be happy about.

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12.22.09

workout: 45 minutes elliptical + weights
– 2 x 10 pushups
– 2 x 12 squats/tricep press, 10 lb weight
– 2 x 10 walking double lunges, 8 lb weights
– 2 x 12 seated rows, 40 lbs
– 2 x 10 lateral/forward raises with lunge, 5 lb weights
– 2 x 10 crunches and oblique crunches each side

culinary corner: KERF week, day 2! i have been wanting to make kath’s nutty sweet potato & kale soup for MONTHS now — ever since my sister tried it and said it was to-die-for good! but i didn’t want to cheat on martha, and she had so many soups to get through. OCD much? perhaps.

but the soup recipe was still waiting for me when doin’ time was finito. and since i’m now getting local produce delivery from bella bean, the timing worked out perfectly. this soup was actually made with local & organic kale, sweet potatoes, AND even NC peanuts!!

my sister was not exaggerating. this soup is FREAKING AMAZING. i’m serious — i never thought i’d be this passionate about a soup, but . . . .it is velvety and almost dessert-like, with enticing exotic flavors and hearty kale which makes it a fulfilling and healthy dinner experience.

i am going to go out on a limb and name this soup MY FAVORITE SOUP OF ALL TIME. go make it!! link to the recipe on kath’s site is on the sidebar.