By the end of our first full day of work in the Language Training Mission, a great deal of Portuguese has been stuffed into our heads. How much will remain by tomorrow is hard to say. At this point it would be difficult to evaluate any progress in learning the language. I felt both confident and grossly inadequate all in the same day. Any confidence at this point probably stems from ignorance.
Almost 12 hours of the day (11½ to be exact) were spent in class, in retention, in meetings. Saturation contact with the language should soon make us proficient or drive us mad. I rather suspect the first is the general outcome. An hour of soccer just before dinner offered some nice diversion. It will take a few days to become used to such concentrated learning and such vigorous activity.
This morning the new elders and lady missionaries were out of class long enough to take a language proficiency test. Results from this will mostly determine the composition of our permanent districts. Changes should be announced tomorrow. Also tomorrow we are expected to speak no English. If we cannot say it in Portuguese, we are not supposed to say it. That should prove interesting.
Yesterday was my mother’s 53rd birthday. I sent a card Friday.
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