The jigsaw puzzle keeps changing!

One of my favourite puzzles, after crosswords, is jigsaw puzzles. I remember very fondly most Christmases when I was growing up, that we had a large puzzle out and everybody would take turns trying to put a few new pieces in, (whenever they felt like it) until the picture was completed and we were very proud of ourselves. I think my Dad had the most patience and usually claimed the last piece as his.(I maintain he used to hide one piece so he was always the one to complete it). I still enjoy jigsaws immensely when I have the time and space to pull one out and leave it set up for a week or so, I do one with great glee. At least now that I live by myself, I can finish them on my own and have the satisfaction for placing the last piece. (Don't worry Dad, I still enjoying doing them with you as well!)

Often, in the completion of a puzzle, a section that we thought was completed would have a piece or several pieces placed incorrectly but you couldn't tell until more of the other pieces fitted together, or occasionally, a piece fell to the floor and was forgotten. Frequently, there would be one piece that would suddenly make the rest fit together.

 Well, I've discovered a new metaphor for learning a foreign language. Learning Spanish has become a bit like having a 3000+ piece jigsaw puzzle to complete. You start of sorting out the edges and general frame of the language (rules etc), then start to construct the picture (specific verb tenses, vocabulary etc). However, every time I feel I've finally put the pieces in place, I learn something new and the picture changes! I'm beginning to feel like there are imps at work in my brain trying to trick me or hiding pieces so I can't finish the section I'm working on. Some days, this is frustrating, others illuminating and very satisfying. Today, I feel like I have to pull a large section apart and reconstruct it. What a drag! However, just as in doing a jigsaw and having to deconstruct parts to finally finish the whole, it is worth the pain.

I keep telling myself, take a deep breath, one step at a time (oh and make sure you get enough sleep). Perhaps its the lack of Vegemite that is causing the problem!