No Hablo Mucho Espanol

Hmmmm... So, not a whole lot has been going on lately. I've been getting a lot more hours at work (Del Taco). That's good, I suppose. I'll be happy on Pay Day.

I've been trying to learn Spanish. I was told straight-up that if I didn't speak Spanish that there was no chance of my being promoted or getting a raise.

Would I have this problem if I didn't live/work in Los Angeles?

Probably not.

But, I do. So I guess I've gotta deal with it.

This isn't just an issue with Del Taco. In the past, a few places have refused to hire me because I didn't speak Spanish.

It's very difficult. In the past, people have told me that it's "such an easy language," but I'm having a lot of trouble with it. Necesito ayuda! I've been trying to learn on my own with books and audio CDs and such. And, on a side note, did you know that the Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English Dictionary doesn't have the Spanish translation for the word "onion" (among other things)? That's something that I need to know to communicate with the cooks and Spanish-speaking customers at Del Taco. There's a great lack of food words in my books! Very frustrating.

The sad thing is, I actually kinda like learning new languages and writing. I loved learning IPA and Masonic code and such... But Spanish feels like it's being forced on me and that makes me a bit resentful. I actually do want to learn it, mainly to better understand my future in-laws (who're Mexican), but I'd like to learn it in a fun way and at my own pace. Not because, if I don't learn it, I won't be able to advance my "career."

Oh well.

If anyone has any tips on how to make it a bit easier for me to learn, please let me know.

In other news, Ramiro and I went to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in Hollywood the other day and it was fantastic. The most fun that I've had at a museum in years!

That's all for now.

--Lauren*