A Passion for Communication Goes Global
After returning from Colombia and my adventures in foreign communication, I have declared my Spanish-speaking endeavor a victory despite a few “failure to communicate” moments.
My love for mass communication was easily sufficed by a household of Spanish speakers, all packed in beyond any reasonable fire code regulation. Though I have had experience with public speaking in what could be considered competitive circumstances, I have never seen quite so many people simultaneously engaging in an effort to speak over one another. I was quickly silenced by this competition, and knowing I didn’t stand a chance in being heard in that environment, I took to an unnatural reclusive state where I might count my losses in English. Luckily for my pride and I, the hospitable nature of South Americans rarely allows for anyone to feel left out, and I had many people patiently engage in conversations with me.
My short sentences slowly grew into deep heart-felt conversations and any English speaker in the room, no matter how novice, became a golden resource. I was truly impressed by all that can be communicated without words, though my Spanish finally started to flow naturally and my boldness to speak peaked a week into the trip. Everyone always asked what I thought of Colombia, and after horseback riding, family dance parties, and weekends lounging poolside at the farm, that at least was an easy question to answer.
I have always felt that language holds power. If you can get your message across then you have the power to influence, even more so if you can get the right message across to the right person. My trip to South America proved to be a humbling experience that replaced my power of language with a lot of misunderstandings, defended only by excessive smiling. I wanted them to understand how appreciative I was for their hospitality and for their patience, and for the experience as a whole. Yet, even through broken sentences, I think my message got across, and alas, my passion for Spanish has grown all the more.
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