My experience on a Spanish-speaking culture trip

Getting to know 9 Spanish-speaking countries has made me understand that the language is not enough for me in my words and expressions, I have travelled thousands of kilometres to realise that ... When I thought I was a native Spanish speaker, I was nothing to all that 8 countries ahead of me were waiting for me.

I was a young girl of 20 years old, travelling with a friend 6 years older and our backpacks, travelling from car to car, from truck to truck and sleeping everywhere, the ‘elders’ only said; and how dare you travel in this way and being so young, don't you miss your family? What if something happens to you? ...

They were sleepless journeys of hours, of course, being aware of whether the road was good for me, if the weather was good, if the driver didn't fall asleep, if we were safe, but let me tell you that, of the most memorable stories for me, are those long conversations with the truck drivers, to whom we served as company during the long hours on the road. In Latin America, not in all countries there is a time control, the only thing that matters is that they meet the delivery schedule (laughs).

Those drivers who were our tour guides, who often took care of us, who fed us many times, and those who told us stories, among many dialects, accents, sense of humour and among many with their ancestral indigenous languages.

And how not to remember the ‘mamitas’ or ‘cholitas’ of the community who, for us, is a sense of pride and identity for the Andean community, they, who on many occasions took care of us as their daughters, who taught us their dialects and at one time, one of them, taught me how to wash my clothes by hitting them on a stone (today I don't do it, but I learned).

The famous Bandeja Paisa of Colombia, the encebollado of Ecuador, the majestic ceviche of Peru, the juicy salteñas of Bolivia, the Paraguayan soup of Paraguay, the asado of Argentina, the toritas fritas of Uruguay, the sopaipillas of Chile ... Here many foods are left out, but what is certain is that I have never forgotten their flavours.

How not to forget those unique landscapes of all climates, sand deserts, salt deserts, Andean mountains, rivers, seas, birds, alpacas, condors, flowers, and the typical costumes. To know their identity as a people and as a community... So different, but so similar at the same time.

And finally, to realise that we speak the same language, but in many occasions with so many differences, that if I want to eat Maíz Pira in Colombia, in Ecuador I would say Canguil, but if I want to eat it in Peru, I would have to say Canchita and if they offer me in Bolivia, they would say Pipoca, but if I want in Paraguay and Argentina I would say Pocholo, but if I am in Uruguay, it would be Pororo and if in Chile, I would say Cabritas.

In the end, to answer the questions I was asked at the beginning of my trip, I can say that it was worth it to miss my family, it was worth it to go on an adventure, even with fear. It was worth it to travel thousands of kilometres because those experiences formed me to be who I am today and to come to tell you this story. there are still many countries and diverse cultures to get to know to continue enriching myself with Spanish and its naturalness. But I can say that all the culture that I have inside me is what I want to teach and inspire for those who are interested in learning at least a little bit of this wonderful language.