#WeekendCoffeeShare (July 13, 2024)

Posted on by Astrid

Hi everyone. I’ve once again not been blogging, but this time it’s not because I’m struggling. Well, I still don’t feel the greatest, but the main reason I haven’t blogged is that something else has caught my attention. I’ll talk about it in a minute. Want a coffee? I’m joining #WeekendCoffeeShare once again. It’s past 10PM, so no coffee for me, but since this is a virtual get-together, you can have whatever you like. Let’s have a drink and let’s catch up.

First, if we were having coffee, I’d share about the weather. It’s been all over the place. On Tuesday, it was hot and humid with a daytime high of 30°C. Then we got this giant thunderstorm. Wednesday and Thursday were still okay with daytime temperatures of around 22°C. Yesterday though, it was not just raining all day, but it was freakin’ frigid with a daytime high of 16°C. Today is slightly better.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that, despite having my new Apple Watch wristband, I didn’t meet my movement goals each day this week. I blame the weather. I thankfully no longer care as much as I used to and can sit back and relax every now and again rather than having to keep up with my activity rings. I did try to walk each day (except for yesterday) and went swimming on Thursday too.

If we were having coffee, next I’d tell you that, yesterday, I went to an Eye Association meeting for young people who are blind or visually impaired (and a few who have an eye condition but can still see quite well). I originally thought I’d be too old to qualify as a “young person”, but the target age group is 18-45. I had a good time, but towards the end got quite overloaded. I had a near-meltdown when the taxi driver called me but I couldn’t hear him over the noise in the cafe in which the meeting was held. I for a bit thought I upset the entire group and wouldn’t be welcome anymore, but thankfully it wasn’t this bad according to several people.

If we were having coffee, lastly I’d tell you all about my latest obsession. I originally wanted to write a separate post about it on Thursday, but got distracted by the actual thing. It’s learning Spanish on Duolingo. I’m currently still at the early A1 level of proficiency. My spouse and mother-in-law have both been learning Spanish on this app for several months. What got me into it though was a conversation in a Facebook group about language learning. Some people said Duolingo isn’t always correct, but I’m not sure whether they were referring to a specific language. I can see why though in a way, as for example early on in the Spanish course, you’re learning the word “elegante”, which Duolingo claims translates to “elegant”. Now I’ve never heard an English-speaking person use the word “elegant” in everyday conversation. I honestly couldn’t care less though, as if I ever get to a point where I can actually talk in Spanish outside of the app, I’ll teach myself the finer details of conversation.

19 thoughts on “#WeekendCoffeeShare (July 13, 2024)”

  1. it is cool your learning spanish! I’ve never used duolingo! I’ve heard it is a really great app though, and very accessible. Glad you had a nice time at the meeting, our weather has been crazy here too, it rained really hard tonight, for about an hour or so. X

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    1. Unfortunately as of the latest update, the Duolingo app is no longer fully accessible with VoiceOver, in that VoiceOver doesn’t read the button to start the microphone during speaking exercises. Then again I’m doing it just for fun, not to be able to converse in Spanish or anything.

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            1. Oh wow that’s cool! There are secondary schools here that do that too, or that have a class in each grade that’s almost completely English-based at least. My high school started this just after I graduated.

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  4. Yeah when the weather is all over the place it can get frustrating at this time we are having cold mornings and nights and it warms up during the day between 10 & 2pm.

    I am doing good with how many steps I am doing each day usually between 2,000 and 2,500 on a couple of days it has been higher, however, if it at any time falls below 2,000 I will not get upset like I use to once a pond a time.

    I think it is wonderful you are learning Spanish being able to speak more then one language is great, I only speak English.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m not intending to actually use my Spanish skills in real life but it feels good to know I can still learn a new language, because I used to think I was suffering from cognitive decline. Yes, I definitely think it’s cool to speak more than one language. In fact, well, I wouldn’t be talking to you on my blog if I didn’t speak a second language, because my native language is Dutch.

      Good for you for getting those steps in but it’s also great that you’re not stressing out if you don’t make it some days.

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  5. Personally Duolingo is good to help build vocabulary but I think I get the most out of language learning when I make conversation in a foreign language. It’s a humbling experience but I learn so much. At work when I interact with Spanish patient looking for which clinic to go to, I use Spanish.

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    1. That’s awesome! I won’t really be able to use my Spanish skills in real life here, except maybe to speak a few words here and there with a fellow client who himself, though he’s originally from Spain, doesn’t speak much due to his intellectual disability.

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    1. Thanks for your encouraging comment. I am still keeping my perfect streak going but am finding that I don’t spend as much time on Duolingo as I used to.

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