Connecting with others in a different language is hard

I started my journey to South America this past week. Will be creating a series of journal entries writing about what has been going on. I’m excited to get going on that. First short leg has been great :)

In the past few days I have realized how much we take language for granted.

We are used to being able to communicate with those around us in a super comfortable manner. I know (roughly) exactly how to express the way that I feel. I know how to use my words to invoke certain ideas and feelings in other people and I can do so in an instant.

Being in a country where nearly everyone was raised speaking Spanish provides a much different perspective.

My Spanish isn’t terrible, and I can get by. The thing is that there is a difference between getting by and truly connecting with others. Without strong Spanish, it is extremely challenging to connect with others. Conversations lose their energy because I am not able to speak as smoothly. I fumble words a bit and come across more awkward. It is harder to express the actual person I am, the way I think, and my personality within conversations.

I also do not understand every word being said by the other person. That means I am missing subtle cues they are giving about questions I could dive further into.

It blows my mind to think that the thing I was raised to believe is called a ‘plane’ is considered an ‘avion’ by people here. It isn’t like they translated plane and then learned the avion. They associate that big thing in the sky that can transport us as ‘un avion.’

It’s pretty cool. And the things that they find funny are different. All based on the cultures that we were raised in. Makes you realize how big the world is and how small our bubble.

Anyone that has a different first language as me (and especially those that are not fluent in English) are significantly harder to know and connect with.

Excited to keep developing my Spanish and meeting people.