The public libraries in my area have shelf after shelf of language learning materials including audio materials and workbooks. You can pick and choose which "system" you like best or try several. I've lived abroad and I'm capable in several languages. I've been exposed to many different theories and approaches along the way. While immersion can be the most rapid approach, my experience would suggest that what will make the biggest difference is YOU. Just like learning to play a musical instrument, you need to spend the time and fight through the frustration until it starts to make sense. There's simply no substitute for time and perseverance. It's very do-able and the rewards are immeasurable. Good luck.

I have another one around here somewhere that is made out of CPVC and I drilled a hole in the elbow on the front end of the left arm, then I formed a cup holder out of solder and hung in the hole. When my daughter was about 8yrs old I made her a table & four dinning chairs for her dolls out of copper. After I retired 4 yrs ago I still keep my hand in the works by teaching some of the apprenticeship classes and we found this was a fun project to teach ppl how to cut and fit pipe. It is really not as easy as it looks because there are a lot of different angles that all have to be correct. When I was in the Air Force I was a still photographer and for a short time after I got out I worked as a freelance photographer so after I retired 5 years ago I took up photography once again as a hobby. I made this particular chair to fit an 18" high stuffed animal frog, which I photograph doing different things then I make a cartoon out of it. I will attach a couple examples:

We use chopsticks all the time for Asian food, and when travelling in Asia I carry my own pair in my handbag for eating at street stalls etc. We don't use them for American/European cuisine because it doesn't really work- you can't cut up larger pieces of food with just chopsticks nor is it appropriate to just pick up a big chunk in the chopsticks and chew off a bite at a time. And mashed potatoes.... :-) Asian cuisine is designed to be eaten with chopsticks and other cuisines aren't.

NHBabs, surprisingly we don't think anyone stayed home because of the rain. It was an outdoor loving group. The evening campfire was made judiciously under the canopy tent and people were happy that the tent trapped the heat. The kids enjoyed the water slide bouncy house for about an hour despite the chill. We couldn't run the bouncy house blowers when it rained. Fortunately, the club was paying for the bouncy houses which a member was able to get at a discount. The really surprising part was how well 4 year olds played in the lousy weather. I told one mom the kids were welcome to come indoors to watch cartoons but she said no. Her child is in daycare all week and the kids didn't seem to mind the rain. But, yes, we still need more rain. Would hate to be a farmer right now.