Seven Years of Spanish and I Suck At It

Y'know, I don't get how all the foreigners I've met in the USA are able to become fluent.  Learning a new language is DAMNED HARD.

During the pandemic I started taking Spanish lessons while I worked out on my treadmill.  Just for communicating in the USA with Spanish speakers.  I had no plans to move.  I took the 4 year high school class, then the 3 levels of Metodo classes that forces you to really speak the language.  

Right now I'm going through the highest level they have out, intermediate, and redoing the class a 3rd time.  It moves so fast and becomes so complicated.  But I didn't really start to 'learn' Spanish until that class.  

I have a pile of Udemy classes I plan to keep taking as I work out.  Right now, I'm still going blank when I hear Spanish.  My brain turns off.  I can struggle through transactions sounding horrible.

Like I went into a Mexican Petco and I wanted to ask if they had any cat laxatives because my cat was constipated.  For some reason I assumed it was laxativo because I'm a gringo idiot.  Finally I just said, 'Mi gata no puede caca.'  (My cat can't poopoo).  😖  And yes, he laughed right in my face.  

But I won't give up.  I have dreams of volunteering here and being able to communicate at least as well as I've seen ESL people communicate in the USA.  

My mom is my go-to translator when it comes right down to it.  I drag her out of the car and make her do the things that are too difficult for me.  It's going to be that way for years, I'm sure.