Jacs
31st March 2009, 10:31 PM
Last year I received an email, completely out of the blue, from a girl from Zaragoza - Marisa. She had seen my myspace profile (where I had stated my interest in learning Spanish) and was visiting my city, Peterborough, and asked if I wanted to meet up for an intercambio. We did and became friends in the time she stayed here. She returned to her home town before Christmas and this weekend I went to visit her in Zaragoza.
I have never travelled abroad alone, so it was with some trepidation that I boarded the plane on Friday to travel to a city I had never visited before. However let me tell you (and this is really the point of my rambling on) that I had THE BEST weekend EVER! I was made to feel so welcome by Marisa, her family and friends and Zaragoza is a beautiful place.
I still feel overwhelmed with the warm welcome and friendliness of everyone I met. My spoken Spanish is appalling but everyone who could speak English talked to me and they were very patient with me and my attempts at Spanish! We translated bits of conversations here and there, so i could get the general idea of what was going on and used lots of sign language for the rest. I think a couple of Ambar cervezas helped everyone's nerves. So here are some of the things I have learnt.....
1. I can go to a party with 20 Spanish people that I have only just met, understand only 98% of the conversations but STILL have an amazing time.
2. A couple of drinks helps you feel less self concious in trying out your Spanish. (Ambar was a new one for me and also G&Ts)
3. My new Spanish friends were just as nervous at speaking English to me, so remember you are all in the same boat!
4. You will get a headache (or feel almost dizzy) from concentrating so hard on trying to understand the conversations going on around you.
5. However even after just 2 days I could understand much much more and my headache disappeared.
6. Music is a great shared interest and if you are happy to sing a song (even La Isla Bonita/Madonna) you know that has Spanish lyrics it goes a long long way! Don't be shy just SING!
7. Learn some slang especially swearwords or expressions and demonstrate them (only to your friends!!!!) with feeling, it is very funny! Teach your new Spanish friends some fabulous English swearing too!
8. It is great to meet and talk to children who are just starting to learn English, you can learn new vocab and they will always correct you.
9. Try all the different foods even if you dont know what it is - I ate tripe for the first time, and I think everyone was pleased I would taste it!
10. Read the local paper (on-line) before you go so you have some knowledge of local events and news stories to talk about.
11. Carry a small notebook and pen at all times to write all down your new vocab and expressions (my favourite from the weekend "No me vas a embolicar!")
12. Be prepared to feel VERY emotional (in a happy way) with the hospitality and warmth from your new friends.
I urge everyone who has the chance to, to go and meet up with your friends in Spain. I never went on a language exchange at school but wished I had done it years ago. It inspires your learning and really is the best best way to learn a new language.
I have promised to improve my spoken Spanish for my next visit and am trying to learn the song "La Bien Paga" (I hope that is correct?) so that I can join in with the songs at parties!
Perhaps I should have posted this on the learning Spanish section but i think my experience is really a great demonstration of Spanish culture and openness/ welcoming warm and fabulous people!!!!!
;D:D:):o:):D;D
Also Zaragoza is a lovely city with interesting history, architecture and cathedrals, I will post a couple of pics tomorrow....
Jacs
x
I have never travelled abroad alone, so it was with some trepidation that I boarded the plane on Friday to travel to a city I had never visited before. However let me tell you (and this is really the point of my rambling on) that I had THE BEST weekend EVER! I was made to feel so welcome by Marisa, her family and friends and Zaragoza is a beautiful place.
I still feel overwhelmed with the warm welcome and friendliness of everyone I met. My spoken Spanish is appalling but everyone who could speak English talked to me and they were very patient with me and my attempts at Spanish! We translated bits of conversations here and there, so i could get the general idea of what was going on and used lots of sign language for the rest. I think a couple of Ambar cervezas helped everyone's nerves. So here are some of the things I have learnt.....
1. I can go to a party with 20 Spanish people that I have only just met, understand only 98% of the conversations but STILL have an amazing time.
2. A couple of drinks helps you feel less self concious in trying out your Spanish. (Ambar was a new one for me and also G&Ts)
3. My new Spanish friends were just as nervous at speaking English to me, so remember you are all in the same boat!
4. You will get a headache (or feel almost dizzy) from concentrating so hard on trying to understand the conversations going on around you.
5. However even after just 2 days I could understand much much more and my headache disappeared.
6. Music is a great shared interest and if you are happy to sing a song (even La Isla Bonita/Madonna) you know that has Spanish lyrics it goes a long long way! Don't be shy just SING!
7. Learn some slang especially swearwords or expressions and demonstrate them (only to your friends!!!!) with feeling, it is very funny! Teach your new Spanish friends some fabulous English swearing too!
8. It is great to meet and talk to children who are just starting to learn English, you can learn new vocab and they will always correct you.
9. Try all the different foods even if you dont know what it is - I ate tripe for the first time, and I think everyone was pleased I would taste it!
10. Read the local paper (on-line) before you go so you have some knowledge of local events and news stories to talk about.
11. Carry a small notebook and pen at all times to write all down your new vocab and expressions (my favourite from the weekend "No me vas a embolicar!")
12. Be prepared to feel VERY emotional (in a happy way) with the hospitality and warmth from your new friends.
I urge everyone who has the chance to, to go and meet up with your friends in Spain. I never went on a language exchange at school but wished I had done it years ago. It inspires your learning and really is the best best way to learn a new language.
I have promised to improve my spoken Spanish for my next visit and am trying to learn the song "La Bien Paga" (I hope that is correct?) so that I can join in with the songs at parties!
Perhaps I should have posted this on the learning Spanish section but i think my experience is really a great demonstration of Spanish culture and openness/ welcoming warm and fabulous people!!!!!
;D:D:):o:):D;D
Also Zaragoza is a lovely city with interesting history, architecture and cathedrals, I will post a couple of pics tomorrow....
Jacs
x