Luis and I will try to keep these entries short, frequent and specific enough so that they generate reflexion and comments from you all. On this topic, let me just iterate that the purpose of this blog is to create dialog between you all with each other and you all with us about your journey in learning Spanish. There will grammar to fine tune and expressions to learn, seemingly endlessly, but those are the mechanics of learning a language. We are more interested in talking about the eurika moments. That fluid conversation you had with that native speaker when you were feeling it. When you were making a point and making it impressively and easily and you could see the impact your command of the language was having on the native speaker. Yes, yes, we know these moments come and go, but that is the nature of assimilation. Bit by bit, piece by piece the language finds it’s home in you and has it’s way with you at the same time. Chipping, chipping away at who you used to be and how you used to see. Ooooo, this is the good stuff. You remain you, but transformed into a more fluid you. Notice, I did not use the word ’fluent’, rather, ‘fluid’. You are able to almost metaphysically step through some cultural thing that previously had been the distinction between you and the other. And the key that unlocked it all was that eurika moment in the language. Language can indeed be a key.
For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about yet, stick with it and you will. I remember yearning for that eurika moment, and for another and another after that, once I had my first. It felt like a really good yawn or stretch after being in the same position for an eternity. It was so exhilerating and freeing and satisfying. There are many of you who have experienced this and know what I am talking about. And you know as well, that as mysteriously as it appeared, this dematerializing wall that a moment ago you so fluidly walked right on through, as suddenly became a solid hunk of matter once again with no sign of it’s former yielding.
So tell us about a time when you walked through that wall and tell us about another time when you thought you knew where that wall would give and it just stood there 4 feet thick with no entry in sight. Let’s talk about this mysterious, magical thing called acculturation through language.
Hasta luego……. -Joan
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