Back to school

When I tell Spaniards that I am retired, they are generally confused and perhaps think that I don't know what I'm saying. Early retirement is rare in the US, but it is almost impossible in Spain, given how taxes work here. So I often tell them that my visa doesn't allow me to work and that my job this year is to learn Spanish. That is turning out to be truer them I expected.

I was able to enroll in one of the intensive Spanish classes offered by the local government. I attend four days per week, 2.5 hours per day. Add in my two languages exchange partners, and I'll be spending almost thirty hours per week either learning or commuting to my lessons. After a year and a half of retirement, this feels like a huge constraint, especially because the evening classes mean I won't be able to do many social activities. But I'm hoping that if I put my head down, I can make some serious progress by the end of the semester.

Yesterday was my first day. The teacher is great - I think it might be a universal retirement that people teaching immigrants be enthusiastic and encouraging, the same way kindergarden teachers are. The students in my class come from all by over Europe and China, but I am the only native English speaker.

I am normally nervous starting new things, but not yesterday.  Classes can be intimidating because I have to talk to new people and there are exams that I want to do well on. In this case, I am already living a daily language exam, and school can only make it easier.

First day of school photos are compulsory, 

even if you are 48.