Gringa Journeys: The art of Language

Sep 10, 2016
3 min read

I am consistently being shown that the traditional view of an artist is outdated and flawed. Connecting with women who find fulfilment in expressing themselves has made this clear! Whether it’s through painting, drawings or, in the case of Santiago based translator, and owner of the blog ‘Gringa Journeys’, language.

Seth Godin, the best selling author of book Linchpin, believes we should all strive to become an indispensible resource in the workplace, and constantly refers to the reader as an ‘artist’. Creating something that cannot be replicated, challenging perspectives and to making changes that can inspire others. This is what artists do. We’re all aspiring artists of some kind, including Leah, who was happy to share the details of her city-loving Santiago lifestyle.

Alexa: You speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese – that is amazing! What inspired you to pursue languages?

Leah: The main thing that influenced me to learn Spanish was an amazing teacher in high school who sparked an interest and a hunger that made me want to become fluent. Language has always seemed like a giant puzzle, and I love trying to put all of the pieces into place. I’ve always been an inquisitive person and love that with language you can never stop improving.

Alexa: Speaking of learning a new word every day, ‘Gringa’ is a new phrase to me, what’s the story behind the name of your blog?

Leah: After 2 years in Chile, I have been called “Gringa” too many times to count! Honestly, I’ve started feeling a bit affectionate about the term, which means to be a foreign woman in Latin America. I also wanted to include “Gringa” in my blog title to portray my interest and passion for Hispanic culture and the Spanish language.

Alexa: What would be your main piece of advice be for people who are trying to learn a second language?

Leah: Stick with it! So many people give up a few months into learning a second language. Here’s the good news: the first part is the most difficult. Once you make the first push of learning a good base of vocabulary and memorising verb conjugations, you’re almost there. Make an effort to practice any chance that you can, and I promise that it will be worth it. My go-to advice is: use flashcards!

Me: Handy tips! But I’d imagine being a translator (particularly as someone who’s moved from north to south America) requires more than the ability to speak Spanish, what have your experiences been with the culture in Santiago?

Leah: Yes, I’ve lived in Santiago for nearly 2 years! 1 year 9 months, to be exact. Living in Santiago has been a huge learning experience. I’ve had to ada pt in a way that I never knew that I could! I think that adapting and trying to assimilate is always the hardest part about experiencing a new culture.

Leah: The most important thing I’ve had to learn is that you shouldn’t make daily comparisons between your home country and your new country. I found myself sometimes thinking “this wouldn’t happen in the U.S”, and those kinds of comparisons just aren’t healthy for any expat to make. As far as language, I’m still in love with being immersed 24/7. Being here is like a constant Spanish exam and even though I consider myself fluent in Spanish, I still learn new phrases and vocabulary every day.

Alexa: Is there anywhere in particular in South America that you would recommend visiting?

Leah: Brazil, Brazil, Brazil! It’s my current obsession after spending February in Florianópolis. I think that Brazil has something for everyone between all of the beautiful landscapes, the food, and the warm culture. Not a lot of people know about places in Brazil besides Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, but there is really so much to discover: Salvador da Bahia, Paraty, Florianópolis, etc.

And on that note, I have a renewed urge to order a Rosetta Stone course in Portuguese, and book a flight to Brazil. I hope Leah has inspired you to see new cultures and broaden your perspective. Maybe it’s even given you a nudge to start learning the language you’ve been planning to do for the past year, or so.