#2: Language Matters
Traveling whist not speaking the local language is terrifying and isolating. Speaking Spanish, I had only traveled to Spanish-speaking countries. This was convenient because usually I can know what's going on, and express myself if I need to. Then I went to Brazil. They speak Portuguese there, which is allegedly similar to Spanish. I do not speak Portuguese. Did I think that speaking Spanish would allow me at least to understand it? Yes. Was I wrong? Yes. I went around afraid to ask questions, not know what language to speak to people in, not knowing how to order in a restaurant without sounding dumb. There was no way of escaping the tourist identity. Any insecurity I had in speaking Spanish disappeared, and I will never take it for granted again. Finding someone who spoke Spanish (or English I suppose) was a huge relief.
This immense cultural and linguistic barrier I felt provoked me to think.. why do we not take language more seriously in the US? Language is really the only way humans can truly communicate. Sure, body language, drawings and hand motions can work, but to convey the nuances of our thoughts, the most precise tool is language. If we need language to communicate with others, we are restricted to understanding only those with whom we share a language. Why do we treat language as a novelty, an additional skill to boost our marketability rather than a way to deepen our understanding of humanity? Especially in the US, why do we resist multilingualism?
Imbedded in language is culture. The way in which things are said, the set of vocabulary, how things are emphasized, the details within a language shed light on its culture. I truly believe one cannot truly come to know a culture without understanding it's language. Many people in the world speak English - whether it is a 1st, 2nd or 3rd language. Thanks to the obscene amount of success of US pop culture, it spans across the globe. People from across the world know what living in the US is like- at least in the movies. Our dominance in the media industry perpetuates the diffusion of the English language. People I have met from other countries have a deeper appreciation for languages than my peers in the US because their native tongue might not be as universal as ours. So then is the US lack of emphasis on language imply an apathy toward cultural exchange? Perhaps. This is not to guilt or shame those who are monolingual, but rather to call into question society's approach to language acquisition.
While the international stage consumes US media, we rarely consume media from abroad. We are absorbed in our own media as well and our exposure to other cultures and languages is limited and sometimes resented. Would more of an emphasis on global, rather than national, issues reduce some of the racism and xenophobia we see in the US? Personally, my history courses in school focused solely on the US and Europe as if that were the whole world - entire continents, untouched.
Therefore, learn languages. Don't just study them, really learn them. Watch shows, listen to music. Without the cultural exposure, you're just memorizing vocabulary and conjugations (also important). Respect other cultures by learning the languages. Consequently, do not judge or resent those who speak limited English in the US. Trust me, they want to speak English just as much as the "you're in America, speak American, damnit" coalition does. It takes years and years to learn a foreign language. Do not treat language as an after thought, and don't take it for granted. Every language is a form of communication for someone - embrace your own, and embrace that of others.
This immense cultural and linguistic barrier I felt provoked me to think.. why do we not take language more seriously in the US? Language is really the only way humans can truly communicate. Sure, body language, drawings and hand motions can work, but to convey the nuances of our thoughts, the most precise tool is language. If we need language to communicate with others, we are restricted to understanding only those with whom we share a language. Why do we treat language as a novelty, an additional skill to boost our marketability rather than a way to deepen our understanding of humanity? Especially in the US, why do we resist multilingualism?
Imbedded in language is culture. The way in which things are said, the set of vocabulary, how things are emphasized, the details within a language shed light on its culture. I truly believe one cannot truly come to know a culture without understanding it's language. Many people in the world speak English - whether it is a 1st, 2nd or 3rd language. Thanks to the obscene amount of success of US pop culture, it spans across the globe. People from across the world know what living in the US is like- at least in the movies. Our dominance in the media industry perpetuates the diffusion of the English language. People I have met from other countries have a deeper appreciation for languages than my peers in the US because their native tongue might not be as universal as ours. So then is the US lack of emphasis on language imply an apathy toward cultural exchange? Perhaps. This is not to guilt or shame those who are monolingual, but rather to call into question society's approach to language acquisition.
While the international stage consumes US media, we rarely consume media from abroad. We are absorbed in our own media as well and our exposure to other cultures and languages is limited and sometimes resented. Would more of an emphasis on global, rather than national, issues reduce some of the racism and xenophobia we see in the US? Personally, my history courses in school focused solely on the US and Europe as if that were the whole world - entire continents, untouched.
Therefore, learn languages. Don't just study them, really learn them. Watch shows, listen to music. Without the cultural exposure, you're just memorizing vocabulary and conjugations (also important). Respect other cultures by learning the languages. Consequently, do not judge or resent those who speak limited English in the US. Trust me, they want to speak English just as much as the "you're in America, speak American, damnit" coalition does. It takes years and years to learn a foreign language. Do not treat language as an after thought, and don't take it for granted. Every language is a form of communication for someone - embrace your own, and embrace that of others.
#1: Slow Down
It's been about three weeks since I escaped winter in the USA to travel south-bound for Argentina. In these three weeks, I feel as though I've been acting as an observer of the culture. Latin America is unique, as is every country, province and even city within this broadly defined region. Desperate to avoid being labeled a "gringa" everywhere I go, I've been watching life in Buenos Aires, hoping to begin to accustom myself to the culture here. So far, I've learned some basics. For example: don't expect cars or pedestrians to yield, set aside about 2 hours for any meal in a restaurant, go to the lottery store to reload your bus pass and whatever you do, do not touch anything in the pharmacies (possibly a hot spot for theft? Still figuring out the necessity of the guards in bullet proof vests in "farmacity"). [For more about the porteño learning curve, check out my culture shock tab].
What I've started to appreciate the most about Latin America is the more relaxed life-style that encourages you to take a step back, and appreciate the little things. It's the tranquility of nighttime workouts in the park. It's the familiarity of the little $1-empananda shop. It's the woman at the laundromat remembering me, waiting past closing time for me to pick up my laundry (big shout out to her actually). It's discovering new places every day. It's finding the shortcuts back home, having the doorman greet you with a smile, knowing when cabs are driving you in circles, navigating the bus system, recognizing the local music, etc. It's the small things that start to come together and make you feel a part of a city. Have I completely escaped the gringa identity? Definitely not. I think I would need 6in platforms, a blonde ombre and a handbag-sized puppy to truly blend in, but slowly I am adapting to life in Buenos Aires. Life here is not as compartmentalized as it is back home. Things have a natural flow, and this is perhaps the part of Argentinian life that I am most eager to adapt to - finding ways to trade in order for flexibility, certainty for spontaneity. My goal for this experience is to embrace this flexibility, to say yes to experiences and go outside my comfort zone. 3 weeks down and a bunch more to go - we'll see where the current takes me.