Huh?

It has been a while but I am still here and kicking! I have settled into a great apartment close to the center of the town. Nerves have subsided and I have fell into the swing of things with my job. I can see that learning Spanish is going to be my biggest down fall and struggle moving forward.

One thing you never realize is the lack of effort needed when communicating in your native language. You never have to think about the inefficiencies when meeting new people, when going on a first date, talking about your day, emotions, needs, wants, and humor. Before coming I never even thought about the language barrier and how difficult it would be. The effort and determination to learn Spanish is necessary to making a life here that is remotely similar to the one in the United States. I have seen in the short two months I have been here that all my anxiety and loneliness stems from the ability to communicate to my full extent. I come off as closed off and introverted when in reality I am the opposite. Language is something that we all take for granted.

Not only living in Spain and knowing minimal of the language as well as teaching English, I have come to admire language and how we communicate. It is amazing how we may never think about it, but language is essential to happiness and is the key to connection with others.

As much as this is what is my biggest peak to conquer, I am afraid I don’t have a solution to pass on other than time and practice. I have noticed that natives appreciate the attempt to speak their language and would rather you stumble than to not try at all. No one knows all languages so best we can do it try and fail rather than never try at all.