Spanish is Probably One of the Most Useful Languages You Can Learn
Spanish is Probably One of the Most Useful Languages You Can Learn
You won't regret welcoming Spanish Culture onto your Language Palette
Most Hispanic women age like fine wine. You see them as young and tender grapes that aren’t ripe for the picking until late into their 20s and 30s when they wear their finesse with elegance and poise. Yet, as young daughters, their liveliness and thirst for festivity start young and they will throw you into a dance of adventure inviting you on a tour of the town and a warm meal into their very home. Hispanics are very inclusive.
If you are willing to embrace Hispanic culture, the women as mothers and aunts are among the most welcoming, generous, and thoughtful hosts you can have. The men also age gracefully with their serious demeanor. Yet, don’t let their stern machismo intimidate you. They are among the most kind-hearted and generous men as they will break the ice with witty jokes that will make you belly laugh for memorable moments.
As a second-generation Hispanic American, I always felt left out until my college years. Yes, my father who is a native of the Island of Puerto Rico fed me rice chicken, and beans as a tender toddler on her high chair. I’ve visited Puerto Rico countless of times as a teenager and even learned to speak Spanish on mission trips to Costa Rica well into my college years where I met special people. I fell in love with the people, cuisine and the culture and I began to learn about myself and accept myself in my femininity and Hispanic roots.
Yet, I somehow didn’t fit in. I was still viewed as the Gringa who didn’t really know Spanish like them. I guess it’s because they see all U.S. Americans as rich white folk who don’t have any flavor whether it comes to their cooking or dance but that doesn’t stop them from teaching you Spanish and fattening you up around a warm welcoming plate of their favorite meals.
It is still okay because they always made me feel welcome with warm jokes, secret meal gatherings meant especially just for me as their guest, and memories that made me treasure my trips abroad. If you are generally interested in inquiring about their culture you will never encounter a boring moment.
With that said, coming back home to the States, I realize that there are a lot of other Latin American countries left to visit besides Costa Rica. In total there are 19 Latin American countries. Then we can include the southern half of the United States with states like Florida, Texas, California, and Colorado which consist predominantly of Spanish Speakers, which gives you the opportunity to come in contact with some of the most fun cultures like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala and Mexico in our own back yard.
It’s important to take into account that not every Spanish dialect is the same as its neighbor. Some words used in Puerto Rico might be spelled the same in Costa Rica but have a completely different meaning. Like “Joder”, for example. In Costa Rica it has a harmless significance, “to bother someone” but in Puerto Rican Spanish it has a vulgar denotation. So it is important to brush up on your slang words before going to visit a foreign Spanish-speaking country that is different from other ones on your bucket list to avoid confusion and offense.
However, we have to take into account that not every Latin American country is safe for travel currently, Like Venezuela and Nicaragua as each country’s political climate is distinct to welcoming foreigners safely; however, generally speaking, peaceful nations like Costa Rica and Panama are among the most friendly and kind-hearted people you would ever meet.
So, if you were ever at a loss for which language to ever learn I suggest learning Spanish as one of the useful languages that would bridge an international communicational gap among tourists. You will never have a boring experience and I promise you that. :)