Learning Spanish and Overcoming Awkward

Let me tell you a secret about learning Spanish while living in a Spanish-speaking country.

Sometimes it feels like a never-ending series of embarrassing events.

I can’t even begin to tell you how often my Spanish has landed me into one ridiculous scenario or another -and I’m good at it!

My latest incident took place at the pharmacy because… allergies (thank you, Mother Nature!). In my allergy-induced haze I mistranslated the word for antihistamine and asked for antihistaminas. Which is 100% wrong, it’s antihistamínicos.

Unfortunately for me, the pharmacist I asked refused to make a small leap in logic and looked at me like I was speaking Russian. Which forced me to repeat myself several times (all with the same result) before resorting to explain (repeatedly) what I wanted while my face slowly turned different shades of red.

Thankfully, another pharmacist, who felt pity for me, handed me the box I needed and quickly resolved the situation.

Embarrassing scenarios happen EVERYDAY.

I wish I could tell you that awkward situations like these stop after a while. They don’t.

There is no avoiding them. No matter how strong your Spanish gets, or how well you understand the culture. As outsiders in a foreign country, the only thing you can do is mentally prepare.

Get it in your head that it will happen (constantly) and do your best to grow some thick skin. (I know, this is horrible advice!). I’m an introvert who overthinks every situation. But I know that it’s part of language Spanish.

The quantity of embarrassing situations have certainly decreased over the years. Though I know they will never completely end.

Think of all the embarrassing situations you get yourself into back home speaking English. It’s a part of life. Abroad, it will only multiply.

It means you’re taking risks.

And that’s a good thing. Getting  yourself into an embarrassing situation means that you’re not sitting at home twiddling your thumbs. You’re out, in the world, learning Spanish, overcoming awkward situations, and taking on the country.

Consider it part of the adventure.

Use it as a teaching moment.

Whatever it is that happens, learn from it. Don’t make the same mistake again.

Trust me when I say that I’ll be sure to remember the correct word for antihistamines.

I’ll also remember the difference between species (species, as in, the human species) and specias (spices, as in, what you cook with) because of the time I asked where the human species was, instead of where the spices were located at the grocery store.

Run with the awkward and use it to your advantage.

There is no solution.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. This is one of these ‘grin and bear it’ situations. My best advice to you: prepare yourself, use the language, make mistakes, and roll with it.

And most of all, turn it into a wildly entertaining story once you get back home.