Breaking the language barrier

One of the most pleasant surprises I have had in the past few weeks in Taipei is how much of the language I have already begun to incorporate and learn in my speech. My wife worked hard in the weeks previous to our departure in teaching me the basic tones, phrases, and numbers in Mandarin, but it often surprises me (and others) how quickly I have been picking up vocabulary and phrases. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me - I have spent time studying French, Greek, and linguistics at a second-year undergrad level with continual success, and I have a high capacity for language. Sure, I'm not fluent in those other languages, but that's due more to lack of practice than ability (I think). Still, I was worried, since Mandarin is an entirely different style of language, and I have done well for a foreigner. Ari and I are strongly considering studying Mandarin (spoken and perhaps simplified written) starting in the fall to be able to have a higher level of fluency when we return, and I am excited about getting back into studying language. I would love to finish up my French and Greek, and I also want to take Latin and Hebrew someday, in addition to more linguistics courses. In fact, I think that if I ever take another undergrad degree, it would be in linguistics and languages, and I would love it. So I've broken through something on this trip - I now have a resurgent need to learn more languages, and I know that I can. C'est tres bon.