Hi Everyone and Welcome to our blog!

I'm Janette Araya and I've been a Spanish teacher for over 20 years!  I love the Spanish language and all of the cultures in which it is spoken.  Yeah, I know, I'm kinda nerdy that way.  You may wonder if I am Hispanic since my last name is of Spanish origin.  Well, the answer is no. I was born in Pennsylvania and there was no one who spoke Spanish where I lived, except for the Spanish teachers at school.  But, I studied in Valencia, Spain while in college and I love to speak Spanish.  So, where did I get the last name Araya? - from my husband, who is from Paraguay, South America.  Maybe someday I'll tell you how we met.  It's an interesting story.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, crocheting and walking with my dog, Schatze.  This summer, I began to try my hand at furniture refinishing.  I think I'm going to enjoy that hobby, as well.  I find it very relaxing - even when something goes wrong.  I enjoy traveling and meeting new people.  I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you this year and learning lots of new things.