Anecdotes from Cadiz Part 1: Connections through Language

Recently, I went on a trip to the province of Cadiz (a province in Spain known for its beautiful beaches) with Erasmus (an exchange program for European students). Even though I do not hold an EU citizenship, I have been lucky enough to go on several Erasmus trips during the past semester because of how inexpensive they are given everything that is included. I couldn't wait to escape the heat of Córdoba and get to the beach, but I was also a little nervous because I did not know anyone else who was also going on the trip given that my friends from PRESHCO (my study abroad program) had left at the end of the semester.

I was the only person from the United States on the trip as well as the only person who spoke English as their first language. This was a new feeling for me, as for most of my life I have been surrounded by native English speakers and other people from the United States. During my time in Spain, this has shifted and I have experienced what it feels like to be the “only one”- the only one who doesn’t have two last names, the only one who doesn’t have a d.ni, the only one who doesn’t speak Spanish fluently, the only one from the United States. Most students on the trip spoke either German or Italian as their first language, and I began to feel isolated as they spoke these languages amongst themselves and I was once again “the only one” who didn’t speak either of these languages.

When I got to the hostel, I could tell that the woman behind the front desk who gave me my keys was a native English speaker. I asked her where she was from and she said Ireland. As we made conversation, I began to feel more at home. Something about speaking with her was very comforting and I felt like I belonged. Given that my friends from my study abroad program left a month ago, I haven’t been speaking English as much lately. I didn’t realize how much I missed that comfort until I spoke with her, because speaking my native language with someone who shared it felt great.

As we were leaving the hostel to explore the city and go to the beach, there were several Italian speakers who welcomed me into their circles with open arms. They initiated conversations with me in Spanish, invited me to eat lunch with them, and invited me to sit with them at the beach. One of them even played chess with me; playing chess anywhere especially at the beach is one of my favorite things to do. For those of you who don't know me, I carry a mini chess board with me wherever I go in case I run into someone who also plays. I was happy to have met someone who appreciates the game as much as I do.

Given that the sun in Spain sets late, especially during the summer, we had an extra long day at the beach. This meant that by the time we got back to the hostel, showered, changed, and got ready for dinner, most restaurants were already closed. As we passed more and more doors that said "Cerrado" or "Closed", we realized that our chances of finding a place to eat dinner were slim. Eventually, most people settled on ice cream. However, my friend and I were determined to get a meal so we continued searching for a restaurant. After some more exploring, we found a small Italian restaurant. There were no other customers there because it was so late. The waiter greeted us and asked us what we wanted to drink. Understandably so, he seemed burnt out and ready to go home. As he continued speaking, my friend heard his Italian accent, so she began speaking to him in Italian. His face lit up and I could tell how excited he was to have found someone who shared his native language.

After, we had our drinks, he served us a delicious potato salad and the best pesto pasta I have ever tasted. After we finished eating, he sat down and talked with us for awhile. He and my friend were nice enough to translate what I didn't understand into Spanish so I could be included in the conversation as well. After awhile, the waiter went back into the kitchen. He came back out with a plate of fresh pineapple with cherries on top. Although the fruit was delicious, I couldn't eat much of it because of how full I was from everything I had eaten before. He explained that the dessert was on the house and how we would be getting a discount on our dinner. I could tell that this was mainly because of my friend speaking in Italian with him and my willingness to listen and learn.

This experience showed me how food is used to bring people together by sharing culture, gratitude, and connections. It was a powerful reminder of how valuable it is when you know someone’s native language especially when it’s not the one that is primarily spoken in the community. I could tell how much the man missed speaking Italian with people regularly and how excited he was to have found someone who shared his native language. If we hadn't connected with him through his native language, our experience at this restaurant would have been like any other: where the only interaction with the server is asking for drinks, food, and the bill. However, instead we got to connect with the waiter as a person. Moments like these are what make life so beautiful and I hope to have many more through language learning.

Next year, my goal is to be conversational in Italian and visit "El Charpa Italia" again.