Starting From the Beginning Learning a New Language

Starting from the beginning and doing something for the first time is exciting. It can also feel hard and impossible not to compare myself to others. Thoughts constantly running in my heard such as:

"I want to be as good as they are”

“I will never be as good as them, it will take forever to speak a new language”

“I am starting all the way from the beginning, what’s the point?"

Then I remind myself of all the reasons I should be starting now and how that is a beautiful thing. How brave it is to start something new and go for something that you have always wanted to achieve. To not compare, but to instead be excited to challenge yourself and connect with others. 

During my experience at Spanish Adventure, I experienced many different emotions about learning a new language. At first, it was extremely difficult not being able to express myself fully or understand others around me. Feeling like I was missing out by not being able to understand what was being discussed or why others were laughing during lunch. The more I surrounded myself constantly with Spanish conversation, the easier I was able to tune in and focus simply on the words I understood. This allowed me to have some context to possibly understand what they were saying. As time went on, I began to learn more words slowly week by week and by the fourth week I went from understanding 10% to 40% of the conversations! 

Daily lessons with Rafa!

This also was the case for my daily lessons. During my lessons, learning a new concept such as SER and ESTAR, or PARA or POR, or as simple as saying “I take it” was nearly impossible for me to understand. I felt extremely frustrated with myself that I was unable to remember concepts or words after my class and to be honest, was ready to walk away and throw in the towel. It was then I had a moment of clarity- that I will never be able to learn a new language in its entirety in a few weeks. It takes time, energy, love and immersion to grow. It was when I realized this and stopped putting so much pressure on myself that concepts began to click and stay. I decided to let my guard down and started to speak more in Spanish with everyone at the school and in town. To know that there is no judgement, and I am at Spanish Adventure to learn and make mistakes, because you always learn from your mistakes! I let go of caring if I took five minutes to form a question, but instead be proud of myself for trying. 

In addition to incredible Spanish classes, the daily adventures and the beautiful nature of San Carlos helped the learning process tremendously. Having the time and opportunity to enjoy the refreshing rivers and picturesque mountains was the perfect way to decompress after class. It also allowed for more Spanish conversation and a way to learn about the culture of San Carlos and Colombia. The endless number of waterfalls and lush green forests filled with colorful birds and plants was the perfect way to enjoy our days.

JUST DO IT

Yes, I just copied the Nike slogan. In all honesty, it is truly one of my favorites to live by. It's so true, just do it...go for whatever you want to do. 

Getting started is where most of the resistance lies. Once that part is over, the rest will flow. Not getting overwhelmed with comparisons and "what if's", but just start and enjoy yourself and the process. All your desires, goals, wishes and dreams. It may sound crazy and hard to believe but trust me... they can all come true. If you believe in it, if you trust that you can do it and you put your actions behind your words, the universe will guide you exactly as you need. So, is learning a new language something you have always wanted to do? Have you always wanted to travel to Colombia? Or live in an authentic small village and feel like a local? 

Well then...Check out Spanish adventure! Immerse yourself in the beautiful culture of San Carlos and finally learn Spanish.  Remember, JUST DO IT! 

Meet Jacke and Joan: Spanish Adventure’s Very Own Chefs

Every day after class, excited students anxiously wait for the roar of a bell to fill the halls of Spanish Adventure. This sound can only mean one thing: it’s lunch time. In Colombia, lunch is usually the heartiest meal of the day, consisting of a soup, a salad, a protein, and a carb like potatoes or rice. Here at the school, we have a restaurant onsite where we are treated to amazing meals each day. I sat down with Jacke and Joan, who not only cook us this delicious food but also take time out of their days to help us practice our Spanish: 

Joan preparing food for a fiesta!

¡Hola Jacke y Joan! Pueden presentarse rápidamente?

Hi Jacke and Joan. Can you just quickly introduce yourselves?

Jacke: Mi nombre es Jackeline. Tengo veinte y seis años. Nací en Medellín y he vivido en San Carlos durante cuatro meses. 

Jacke: My name is Jackeline. I am twenty six years old. I grew up in Medellin and I have lived in San Carlos for four months.

Joan: Mi nombre es Joan. Tengo veinte y seis años también. Nací en San Carlos pero he vivido toda mi vida en Medellín. 

Joan: My name is Joan. I am also twenty six years old. I grew up in San Carlos but I have lived in Medellin my whole life. 

¿A qué universidad fueron? 

What university did you go to?

Jacke: Yo fui a la universidad de Antioquia. 

Jacke: I went to the University of Antioquia. 

Joan: Yo igual.

Joan: Me too.

In a conversation I had with Joan about school, he explained how difficult it can be to go to university in Colombia. The private schools are incredibly expensive, and the public schools are extremely hard to get into. In order to gain entry, one must pass a challenging test; luckily, both Jacke and Joan did. 

¿Qué estudiaron?

What did you study? 

Before our bread went in the oven.

Jacke y Joan: Ingeniería de alimentos. Jacki también estudió cocina. 

Jacke and Joan. Food engineering. Jacki also studied cooking.

While I may have previously grouped these two fields together, they are apparently very different. Food engineering focuses more on the science of food and food manufacturing. Their expertise shone brightly when we were given a class about making bread and the science behind the process (they spent 6 months in school just learning about bread!) 

¿Cuáles fueron primeros trabajos cuando salieron de la universidad? 

What were your first jobs out of school?

Jacke y Joan: Este! Nuestro primer trabajo fue iniciar una microempresa de alimentos cárnicos como chorizos, morcilla, y tocino ahumado. Llamada Monte Alma. Además trabajó en un restaurante para la escuela. 

Jacke and Joan: This! Our first job was starting a micro business for meat like chorizos, blood sausage, and smoked bacon. It is called Monte Alma. We also work in a restaurant for the school.

Not only do Jacki and Joan work for the school every day, but they also run their own business, frequently making trips to Medellin to drop off orders.

¿Cuáles son sus comidas Colombianas favoritas para preparar? 

What are your favorite Colombian dishes to prepare?

Jacke: Frijoles y empanadas de papa y carne. 

Jacke: Beans and potato and meat empanadas.

Joan: Me gusta preparar mucho los amasijos Colombianos como pan de queso, pan de yuca, y pandebono. 

Joan: I really like to prepare Colombian dumplings like cheese bread, yuca bread, and pandebono. 

¿Cuánto tiempo han trabajado con Spanish Adventure?

How long have you been working for Spanish Adventure?

Jacke y Joan: Hemos trabajado durante cuatro meses.  

Jacke and Joan: We have been working here for four months.

Describir sus experiencias en la escuela hasta aquí. 

Describe your experience so far at the school. 

Joan: Ha sido una experiencia muy enriquecedora porque he conocido nuevas culturas, nuevas personas, y muy buenas amigas por todo el mundo. 

Joan: It has been a very enriching experience because I have gotten to know new cultures, new people, and very good friends from all over the world.

Jacke: Ha sido una experiencia muy diferente porque nunca había vivido en un pueblo. He conocido y aprendido mucho y siendo esto una buena experiencia. 

Jacke: It has been a very different experience because I have never lived in a small town. I have learned a lot and it has been a great experience. 

¿Disfrutan practicando con los estudiantes aquí? 

Do you enjoy practicing Spanish with the students here? 

Jacke: Si es divertido porque puedes conocer diferentes personas y aprender diferentes culturas. 

Jacke: Yes it is fun because you can get to know different people and learn about different cultures.

Joan: Si, es la mejor parte de estar en la escuela porque interactúas con nuevas personas, haces nuevos amigos, y aprendes mucho. 

Joan: Yes, it is the best part of being in the school because you interact with new people, you make new friends, and you learn a lot. 

One of the best parts of the Spanish Adventure program is that we are given the opportunity to converse with a Native speaker. Each week, we are paired up with a different person, and we get to spend an hour in the morning talking about whatever we would like. I have had conversations about politics, past travels, beliefs about life, funny stories from childhood… It is easily my favorite part of the day. 

¿Cuáles son sus expectativas para el futuro? 

What are your hopes for the future? 

Jacke: Con la escuela, poder avanzar construyendo una familia y poder viajar por todo el mundo. 

Jacke: With the school, to be able to advance in building a family and to be able to travel the whole world.

Joan: Con la empresa la idea es crecer y tenerla posicionada en el mercado siendo referentes a nivel nacional. Con la escuela queremos aprender a conocer nuevos amigos para visitarlos en el futuro. 

Joan: For the business the idea is to grow and to have it be in the market at a national level. With the school we want to learn and to know new friends to visit in the future. 

Getting to know Jacke and Joan has been one of the many highlights of my time at Spanish Adventure. Not only have they accommodated my vegan food needs for the past month (a very difficult task in Colombia), but they have also become true friends. My days will not be the same without the enthusiastic, “Buenos dias Jordyn!!!” that is sure to come from the kitchen when I pass by each morning. Gracias por todo mis amigos. Disfruten sus vidas y los veré en Europa algún día:)

Our Spanish Adventure family.

Gap Year in Latin America: Life's Greatest Classroom

“Where do you want to go to college?” 

The all-important question flowed from the mouths of teachers, family members, and the occasional passersby on the small streets of my NY suburban town. It loomed heavily over me as I made my way through high school and imagined what it would be like to follow the perfectly laid out path that was unfolding in front of me. While college was on the minds of just about everyone around me, I couldn’t seem to get myself excited at the prospect of spending another four years behind a desk without first really experiencing the world. And so, I settled on a gap year.

My “room” in Costa Rica.

Volunteering in the Jungle of Costa Rica

My adventure began in a camp tucked away in the jungle of a Costa Rican surf town. After Coronavirus had closed most of the world and tarnished many of my plans to travel, I was willing to go pretty much anywhere that would take me. The minute I read that Costa Rica had opened their borders (with many provisions), I got to work. I found a surf camp searching for volunteers on the website WorkAway and emailed them immediately. A few weeks later, I was on a flight headed to Central America. As my transport from the airport rolled down the dirt road that led to the camp and inched further and further away from civilization, I uneasily wondered what I had gotten myself into. But when I exited the car and was greeted warmly by an array of unfamiliar faces, I knew I had found something special. The next two months were filled with days of lounging by the beach, meeting the various characters that inhabited the nearby town, taking shots of chili guado, eating infinite amounts of rice and beans, learning how to cope with being permanently covered in mud, and getting to know people that I now consider family. While I was experiencing things that some people can only dream about, I never felt truly present. I’d often find myself staring at a beautiful beach and thinking, “how am I not happy right now?” For some reason, I was constantly looking for something more. This search brought me to my next Central American country…

Exploring ancient Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico.

Backpacking Around Mexico

After a six week hiatus in New York, I was ready to get back out there. A friend I had met in Costa Rica was in Mexico with her boyfriend and urged me to come join her. I figured, “why not?”, and spent a week travelling on the Pacific coast with her and some friends. We celebrated a lively New Years Eve together and then parted ways. I had a volunteer job at a hostel in the city of Puerto Vallarta lined up and plans to finally take some Spanish lessons during my time off. I was looking forward to having a routine and to settling down in a new city, but the first week that I spent in that hostel was probably the hardest of my life. It was the first time I had ever felt truly alone, and it took everything in me not to get on a flight back to New York. I stuck it out for two weeks before I ran away to a new town- a recurring theme of my time in Mexico. I spent four months running from place to place, from Jalisco, to Quintana Roo, to Chiapas, to Oaxaca… my ideas about settling down had completely faded away. I met people from every walk of life and every part of the world. I ate food that I still dream of. I fell in love with everything about Mexico and I learned more about life in those months than I had in my whole eighteen years of living. But still, it always felt like something was missing, and no matter where I went or how fast I ran I just couldn’t seem to find it. By the end of my trip I was burnt out and craving home more than ever. When I landed in New York I practically ran out of the plane. For once in my life, it was the only place I wanted to be. 

Walking along Central Park in Manhattan.

There’s No Place Like Home

I returned home with the knowledge that I had some major work to do on myself. The time I spent travelling made me realize that I could make my way around the entire world and never find what I was looking for; it was something that I was only going to find within myself. I began processing the events of the last year, spending time with my family, and finally learning that I could be happy regardless of my location. I found a genuine inner peace, something I don’t think I would have accomplished without nights of crying on the floor of my muddy tent, frantic phone calls home after losing my wallet on the streets of a foreign city, or bumpy bus rides that lasted 13 brutal hours. The world had turned into my classroom, and it had tested me in every possible way.

A beautiful morning at Spanish Adventure.

My San Carlos Adventure Begins

Before I knew it, my zest for travel had returned. If I’m being honest, my previous time in Latin America had been... less than authentic. I was staying in touristy areas, living with mostly Americans and Europeans, and spending the majority of my time in hostels. On top of that, I struggled to apply any of the Spanish that I was learning as I was constantly surrounded by English. This time around, I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to truly immerse myself in a new country and make a real effort at learning the language. This desire brought me to a finca near the small pueblo of San Carlos, where our story comes to an end. In searching for my next adventure, I found a Workaway for a Spanish school in Colombia, a place where I could take quality Spanish classes, go on adventures each day, live near a town with no tourists, and experience the true Colombian culture. I can easily say that the week I have spent here so far has been the most content I have felt in a long time. My Spanish has already improved astronomically, I have met a group of wonderful people, and I am learning more about this country every day. I am incredibly excited to see what these next few weeks have in store, and I am ready to be embraced in all that the world has left to teach me.