Lovely article, learning tango right now and I think I the comparison with learning a language is very similar! PS, I was in Seville in January, what a beautiful place
I totally agree with your last argument - learning something new outside your comfort zone is incredibly gratifying (some point down the line, at least...)! That said, I still think learning Sevillanas goes above and beyond for me - I really can't dance sensually - so bravo!!
This reminds me so much of my own week, and being humbled yet again in Spanish class because I can’t seem to get writing down and can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong to improve the situation.
I also realized I’ve grown *too* comfortable… the grocery stores and butchers I found early on…I need to expand and explore more because my life here in this first year still feels very much like that of an outsider. One thing I’m challenging myself with moving forward is practicing Catalán at the butcher and grocery store since these tasks are easy for me in Spanish.
At first, everything is hard and emotionally taxing. Then we adjust and It gets easier, but to rest too long in that first stage of comfort ultimately denies us a much richer experience of life in a new country. Thanks for sharing!
Love that this resonated and totally feel you. Interesting point too about how the discomfort - comfort cycle ends up being cyclical, it's like something new is uncomfortable then we get comfortable and it's easy to settle into that. But being abroad allows us more opportunities to push the limits, if we're willing. Love that you're doing not just Spanish but Catalan as well, that's impressive!
Wow, how wonderful you learned how to dance Sevillanas - I have never tried, but would certainly love to. And I totally agree with you that learning the language is a roller coaster of emotions! Great article! 💃
Hi Candace, so sorry I missed this comment! Hopefully I'm not too late, I was going to Reyes Acal. But tbh any academy in Sevilla I'm sure is great, what I'd recommend is doing group classes. I did private classes for awhile and found I progressed much more quickly in a group class. Plus a great way to practice Spanish ;)
Lovely article, learning tango right now and I think I the comparison with learning a language is very similar! PS, I was in Seville in January, what a beautiful place
Glad to hear you liked Seville! I imagine it was quite a bit warmer and sunnier than Ireland in January! ;)
I totally agree with your last argument - learning something new outside your comfort zone is incredibly gratifying (some point down the line, at least...)! That said, I still think learning Sevillanas goes above and beyond for me - I really can't dance sensually - so bravo!!
Thanks for the nice post. It is nice to understand a bit better why all the people that I meet from Sevilla, are so proud of their culture :)
This reminds me so much of my own week, and being humbled yet again in Spanish class because I can’t seem to get writing down and can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong to improve the situation.
I also realized I’ve grown *too* comfortable… the grocery stores and butchers I found early on…I need to expand and explore more because my life here in this first year still feels very much like that of an outsider. One thing I’m challenging myself with moving forward is practicing Catalán at the butcher and grocery store since these tasks are easy for me in Spanish.
At first, everything is hard and emotionally taxing. Then we adjust and It gets easier, but to rest too long in that first stage of comfort ultimately denies us a much richer experience of life in a new country. Thanks for sharing!
Love that this resonated and totally feel you. Interesting point too about how the discomfort - comfort cycle ends up being cyclical, it's like something new is uncomfortable then we get comfortable and it's easy to settle into that. But being abroad allows us more opportunities to push the limits, if we're willing. Love that you're doing not just Spanish but Catalan as well, that's impressive!
Wow, how wonderful you learned how to dance Sevillanas - I have never tried, but would certainly love to. And I totally agree with you that learning the language is a roller coaster of emotions! Great article! 💃
Love your stories! Can you share the name of the dance academy? Would love to check it out when I go next spring: thanks!
Hi Candace, so sorry I missed this comment! Hopefully I'm not too late, I was going to Reyes Acal. But tbh any academy in Sevilla I'm sure is great, what I'd recommend is doing group classes. I did private classes for awhile and found I progressed much more quickly in a group class. Plus a great way to practice Spanish ;)