Penpal discussion
I got the idea to try and write something to my boyfriends cousin (who was born and raised in Peru) at least once a day to help me gain confidence in my conversations (so when I visit his family again, I don't need a drink of liquid courage to get me chatting) and to let me try out new words I've learned. However, I also decided maybe I could discuss whatever words I'm trying out, with everyone on here as well. So here it goes!
Ximena asked me If I was working or studying and I responded with...
No tengo trabajo y no estudiar. I was fired from my job and so, I spend most of my time painting hacer dinero.
What are some ways I could improve my sentence? (Like how would I say "I was fired from my job and so, I spend most of my time painting to make money)
Did I spell things correctly?
And finally, I was wondering if you could contribute what you do for a job or study.
Thank you very much everyone!
5 Answers
You're right. I suppose you could think of it as "They ran me off," but then again why do we say in English "I was fired." This has nothing to do with heat or fire. These are the kinds of things that need to be simply accepted as being the way the language is spoken.
Another way to the same thing is "Me despidieron." This is the "proper" way to say this but "Me corrieron" translates the feeling of the pain of losing a job better.
One way to say it is: No tengo trabajo y no estudio. Me corrieron de mi trabajo así que paso la mayoría del tiempo pintando para ganar dinero.
In addition, I suggest having these conversations as much as you can via Skype rather than writing alone. Writing is very important, but the first priority should always be learning to speak and to listen in any new language. And if for this you find the need for a bit of liquid encouragement, it´s OK. Go for it!
I know!!! I've learned so much from having a penpal from Spain!!! I even started getting a feel for how they use the subjunctive from talking to her! And I haven't learned that yet in Spanish class! (it's the only tense I don't know yet, including some of the "perfect" tenses) I applaud you for doing this!
In fact, there's a social network my penpal introduced to me called Tuenti that they use in the Spanish-speaking world (basically a Spanish version of Facebook). You could ask your boyfriend's cousin if he's a member or he could make an account and invite you (it's invite-only). I'm friends with mi amiga de correspondencia allí 
Y hmmm . . . puedes decir "el jefe me despidaba y ahora suelo a pintar para ganarme dinero." Espero que he puesto ayudarte!
And well, I'm still in school sigh. So that's my job, 'cause my parents won't let me get a part-time one. ¡Adios! 
Another way to the same thing is "Me despidieron." This is the "proper" way to say this but "Me corrieron" translates the feeling of the pain of losing a job better.
Another possibility would be me echaron
Why did you use the words "me corrieron"? Doesn't the verb "correr" mean "to run"? :O
