(Photo above was in Peru at a family homestay circa 2018. After that trip I knew I had to get back to South America again.)

Since you are here, you likely already know that I recently left one career to pursue my passions that took a backseat during my 20s. But you may not know that one of those passions is expanding my understanding of the world through foreign languages.

I will be traveling to Bolivia to fully immerse myself in the Spanish language. After I learn some basics, I intend to use my language skills to volunteer in the local community, supporting displaced persons or an environmental cause. I am sharing this project with you asking for your support, encouragement, and kind words. Sharing this with you is also my way of notifying you that you might not hear from me for a few months, as I will be limiting my English speaking during my travels as much as possible.

My long term goal is to use my language skills internationally in both humanitarian and engineering contexts, with organizations like the United Nations and Engineers Without Borders. 

Here is a bit of background on my foreign language journey:

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of being a polyglot. 

This word means different things for different people, but for me, being fluent in anything more than just English was always something I knew I wanted to achieve. 

I remember, as a small child, my cousin shared Polish candies with me from the European candy shop she used to work at downtown. With each piece of candy, my eyes would light up as she would try to teach me a small phrase written on them. 

I remember fighting with my school counselor to skip the required art class so I could take French in middle school. 

I remember in high school, I took my first true international trip to Quebec, Canada, being thrilled beyond my imagination at the chance to practice my French outside of the classroom.

I remember at university, often looking up to an empty room, realizing all my dorm mates had left to party while not realizing several hours had passed while I spoke Mandarin to myself.

I remember living in Japan for work, not just once, but twice, feeling like an outsider living in a country without truly knowing the language.

I realized that in all these moments, my passion for language never faded, but was never supported by both the opportunity and time to learn through full immersion. And now I have both the time and the opportunity. 

Why Spanish? 

1) I have ZERO Spanish skills (minus “me gusta tacos”), so this will be an experiment to see how quickly I can learn in about three months of full time immersion. I will have several conversations with a close friend during my language journey outlining the progress of my skills along the way. 

2) When I had originally thought about my intent to work at the UN, I was planning to brush up on my French. However, I realized that keeping up with Spanish in the U.S. will be much easier than French initially. Also, learning Spanish now will allow me to pursue more domestic volunteer opportunities supporting migrants in the U.S.

3) There are lots of other reasons to learn Spanish, but in short, it will open up so many opportunities in the future in Central and South America personally and professionally.

Thank you to Conexiones entre Mundos for welcoming and hosting me, as well as providing formal instruction. If you would like to learn more about the school, please visit their website at https://www.conexionesentremundos.com. 

A special thank you to the polyglots and educators that inspired me for years and paved the way for me to start this project; specifically writers Scott H. Young and Benny Lewis, my French teacher Dr. Loe, and Chinese professor, Mr. Knicely (Shi Laoshi).

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