Say what now? You may think. What kind of title is that?
Just bear with me and it will all make sense.
I'd like to tell you about one of the best weekends I've had in a while, and where this title comes in...
So let's just dive in right away, huh?

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My Surprising & Amazing Weekend

In my life, I've always known (more or less) that when I plan things too much, I feel disappointment more than when I just let spontaneity take over. In fact, I can't remember a time when I did something spontaneous and was disappointed with the outcome.

Last weekend was all about being spontaneous and getting out of my comfort zone, and it felt amazing!

But I'll start from the beginning.
Early last week, I was talking to a friend on the phone and mentioned that we've now been here in Mexico for more than 10 months and that I feel a bit annoyed and even a bit ashamed that I barely picked up much more Spanish than what I had when I first came here.
Yeah, I've learned the odd word here and there and my vocabulary has improved but I still have issues stringing a whole sentence together. Anyway, I told the friend that I really needed to step up my game and start learning Spanish more. Two problems: My finances are in a state...so there isn't much to pay for a course. Plus, I don't really have the time and patience to sit through a course every week. Neither do I have the patience to do any online course.
I know how it will end: with me buying the course and never opening it.
We ended up talking about this 3-day course I've been wanting to do since I came here but couldn't afford. The guy that does the course has developed his own formula to hack the brain, in order to learn Spanish, but also pretty much anything else, much, much faster. Speed learning.
I'd been in contact with him for a while and if I'd bring customers his way, I'd get a discount. Three customers and I'd be doing the course for free. There have been people who were interested but then I didn't hear from them again so that was put on the back burner too.

Until last week...

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The very next day Phil (the teacher) sent me a message and told me he was doing the course over the weekend and if I'd like to join for free! The emphasis on FREE.

Yeah, I didn't have to think about that one. Of course, I accepted.
I manifested that almost instantly!
How amazing is that?

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The Master of Bullshittery y Lechuga Fresca

source: tenor

One big takeaway I had from the past weekend was Phil's words: be a master of bullshittery. Don't tell people that you speak 'un poquito' Espanol, because you set yourself up for knowing only a little for life. Something I know but it needed to be said. Instead, bullshit your way around life and tell people 'YES' I speak Spanish...Who cares that I don't get it right all the time?

Phil also told us this story about how he often starts a conversation. With strangers, bar staff, and even cops...
When they ask: Como Estas? Instead of answering: Bien, answer: Fresca Como Una Lechuga (fresh as a lettuce). It makes people laugh, and it breaks the ice. He told us that the police have never given him a fine for anything if he started with that...Something to remember.

Actually, after the first day, I went into town to get these great Arepas for the kids from a Colombian market stall.
The owner knows us. We always spoke English. But this time, I told him I needed to practice my Spanish, so he started asking me all kinds of questions in Spanish, and was very patient waiting for the answer. Before I knew it, we had a full conversation in Spanish!
Something to be proud of. Making progress here!

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Last but not least

The group consisted of 9 people. 10 including Phil.
There was definitely a good reason why we all met.
Not just the Spanish course. I ended up talking about some ideas I had, and others told me about theirs. It very much all fit into place. So we're all keeping in touch, and some of us will be brainstorming our ideas.

Phil had a dance teacher come out to teach us some Bachata.
Look it up if you're not aware of what it is.
He taught us the dance pretty much how Phil teaches languages. Mind hacked.
FUN!
In the end, the teacher and his partner put on a lovely show that struck like lightning. There's just something about Latin dancing that nothing can top. Translate a Spanish love song into English and it sounds weird. To say the least (try translating Despacito haha). But somehow in Spanish, it sounds wonderful. While I was watching them, somehow more just fell into place. In the past, when I worked with (birth) trauma victims with my hypnotherapy, there was ONE thing that didn't quite fit. Something was missing and for years, I couldn't figure out what it was.
While I watched that couple dance, it just snapped in my head, and all of a sudden I knew the solution to the issue I had for so many years. This basically means that now, I can help people better and faster. (Once I start to work here, of course).

Steve, the dance teacher and his partner

Then Phil made us all sing Karaoke in Spanish, individually.
I didn't even wait till the last ones were out.
I volunteered! Which is a big, BIG win for me.
In the past, only alcohol would get me to sing. Now I was sober. I came out of my comfort zone and did it, and so did everyone else.

The whole experience of the weekend was mind-expanding, to say the least. I don't believe in coincidence. We were all there because we had to meet.

We came in as strangers. Feeling awkward, a bit shy, and anxious.

And we all left as family.

The best weekend in a long while, and Fresca Como Una Lechuga!