Everybody knows that grandmothers like to feed you. They say, "you're too skinny," and stuff you 'till you literally can't stomach any more. Due to the fact that my abuelita (grandma) lives in Guatemala, she has been robbed of this grandmotherly right. So you can imagine her delight, and my impending weight gain, when I showed up at her doorstep in San Pedro Pinula to visit for … [Read more...]
How to Say “I Love You” in Different Languages Around The World
One of the things I love about living in Richmond, BC on Canada's West Coast is that I have neighbours that speak many different languages from around the world, giving me the opportunity to learn and regularly hear many different languages. Now while my adoption of different languages is quite rudimentary, one of my favourite neighbours, Glenda, has quite a phenomenal grasp … [Read more...]
Thai in Translation
Learning the basic words and greetings of another language is one of the best parts about visiting a foreign country and a great way to show interest and respect (even though you may be butchering the language) for the local culture. Native people, in my experience, appreciate and welcome this effort. Even though many Thai people know enough English to get by or have other … [Read more...]
Learning Portuguese in Sunny Mozambique
My favourite part about going to a different country is delighting in the unfamiliar sounds of a new language -- and then trying them on my own tongue. Mozambique has many different dialects, but being a recently decolonized country, Portuguese is the most commonly spoken language in the capital of Maputo where I spent the greater part of my visit. My impression of the culture … [Read more...]
Phrases in Spanish for a Visit to Colombia
Recently, a dear friend of mine enjoyed a brief trip to my native country, Colombia. From what I hear, she had a lovely time. As far as her exploits with the language … well, I may have heard that she spent some time attempting an eclectic mix of languages (Spanish, Spanglish, French, Italian, and even Arabic) in order to communicate, something I’d actually be rather interested … [Read more...]
