One of my biggest regrets has always been abandoning foreign languages after O level. I studied both French and Latin up to the age of 16. I then dropped Latin because no one else in the school wanted to do it, and although I started French at A level, swiftly moved to Economics because I didn't like the teacher.
Looking back, I now know that I hadn't really given the teacher enough of a chance, and that giving up a language was probably one of the most stupid things I have done in my life. Now, many many years later I am trying to learn Italian, and, to be frank, it is hard.
My memory is not what it used to be, and whilst I could cope with conjugating verbs at 15, I now find it bewilderingly confusing! I look back on the luxury of devoting a whole day to study, and instead find myself trying to fit in Italian practice around everything else...on the tube, in cafes whilst waiting for someone, even in the bath last thing at night.
Both my sister and a very close friend, Jo, have moved abroad, and I both admire and am jealous of their ability and opportunity to learn a language and integrate (to a degree) into a foreign culture. My sister lives in China and has learnt both Mandarin and Cantonese, and Jo is currently living in Lisbon and studying Portuguese. It's something that is definitely in my long term plans, but of course Italy is my goal.
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