Barcelona and Beyond

Classes and travel have picked up, and I am totally aware I've neglected my Barca blog. I find myself torn on what to share: my trip to Paris (cold but incredible and filled with a copious amount of crepes), culture (Barcelona is a people watchers paradise), or food (imagine a chocolate croissant with chocolate marmalade filling).

Barcelona- Montjuïc

Paris

Tarragona

Instead, let's talk language. Correction let's talk languages (Catalan and Spanish). Even people who speak the same language have miss-communications. Now imagine you're making your way around a new city with a limited (but expanding) vocabulary trying to satisfy your basic needs and form meaningful connections with others. Naturally, the communication barrier gets wider. You are frustrated: you really want to communicate like a local. The native speakers appear frustrated, and a sense of alienation ensues. What to do?

1. Start to laugh at yourself. You are going to "slaughter" the language at times.

2. Focus on the basics. Once you've mastered these, challenge yourself to express personal opinions.

3. Enjoy the experience of feeling uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable reminds us of our resilient nature.

4. And the most important, keep trying and enjoy learning!

And, realize while languages differ the desire to communicate with one another does not. We want to understand others and vice versa. A lesson that is applicable to language and beyond.

Hasta pronto!