Trading Cantonese for Spanish

Cantonese is tough. No surprise. I thought I could do it, but I just don't have the time to practice that I would need to actually remember which inflection to use on which syllable. Over the course of the summer I have pretty much stopped using my ipod to learn it, and I'm basically back to not remembering a word of it.

That sucks. It would truly be a wonderful skill to have - not least because it would enable me to communicate with my in-laws. Maybe I'll go back to it some day, but I can pretty much guarantee it's not going to be any time soon.

On the other hand, I thought it might be wise to try to pick up some Spanish. I have a base in French and I figure it's got to be easier than Cantonese. Plus it would be useful if we decide to start traveling to the sunny south for mid-winter getaways.

I've got hold of the Pimsleur Spanish course - the same course I started with the Cantonese - and I have access to several Spanish speakers at the office. Hopefully this time my learning will progress a little quicker. The slow progress in Cantonese was a real drain on the morale

I find that colder temperatures bring a drop in pedestrian traffic, and I can practice aloud without people thinking I'm talking to myself. So by the time the weather is cold enough to warrant a trip southward, I'm hoping to have some of the basics down.