Mistake or Learning Experience? Coming to BA without speaking Spanish.

Language is complex. It's beautiful and deep- each one is unique and perfectly crafted to its people and culture. We need it every day to do the simplest of things like ordering a coffee and also the deepest of them like expressing one’s sincerest emotions. It's the basis of our interactions and understanding of what is going on around us. Thus, it feels critical to share a language when we go somewhere foreign, new, and unknown. 

Knowing all this, however, I came to Buenos Aires without speaking a lick of the official language. Before applying I knew the occasional, basic Spanish word- “hola”, “gracias”, “hermosa”- and that was about it. I had grown up hearing it around me from time to time because of where I grew up but I had never taken a class or set the intention of learning it. So, when I decided to apply to IES Abroad’s program in Buenos Aires I was excited at the prospect of learning a new language. That being said, I was very nervous about getting around and what my life would be like not fully comprehending conversations around me. 

Now, a month into the program, I can take a step back and reflect on my experience and decision. It would be a lie to say it's been easy. At first, I freaked out (and sometimes still do) at shops and cafes, relied on others for conversation, and stayed very, very quiet. However, now, I am far more comfortable.  I recognize routine words and know what I expect people to say. I’ve picked up on common phrases and the Argentine accent and am no longer confused during most daily interactions.While it still catches me off guard sometimes, I know the basics that I need and am much more comfortable telling people I don’t understand. While admitting that to others can be very vulnerable, it gets easier and you feel both more comfortable and more proud afterwards. 

In the last 37 days of my stay here, my Spanish has improved in every way. Not only have I been able to have full (although elementary) conversations with outsiders in Spanish, I just wrote my first paragraph without help! Being surrounded by the language and taking a six-credit course in it, has been immensely rewarding. Just over a month into my program, I’ve already learned so much. I cannot wait to see how much more fluent I’ll be when the program comes to an end. 

There is still a lot for me to learn, at least before I start expressing my sincerest emotions. It would be naive to think I’ll go back to the US being completely fluent in a language I just started learning. While the thought of how much I have yet to learn could overwhelm me, I am more motivated than ever to continue doing so. Realistically, I’ll still be messing up for the next long while but that only leads to growth. It has been my pitfalls and mistakes that have taught me the importance of continuing to learn and it is because of them I notice my growth.  

I don’t regret my decision to come here without speaking Spanish. If anything, it only means my experiences are greater. I can confidently say that it's taught me a lot and that it feeds into my desire to be better. My Spanish won’t be perfect, at least in the next three months that I will be studying abroad in Buenos Aires. But, I am forever happier to have come here than I would have been had I let the fear stop me.