There is an awful lot of emphasis put on life enrichment these days. We see it when we turn on the TV, listen to the radio, surf the web. Walk into a book store and there is likely a display of books on how to be happier, healthier and live a fuller, richer life.
I’ve got a tip that can enrich your life – learn Spanish.
It has got to be one of the, if not the most life enriching thing that I’ve done.
To be able to communicate with another culture is an amazing thing.
This fact had an awful lot to do with my then wife and I deciding to sell out, pack up, and move our family to Costa Rica in 1999.
Prior to that time, I had always admired and envied those that had a second language. We tried in the States to learn Spanish. I bought a huge satellite dish and put it out in the yard just so we could get Spanish TV. I thought that would be the way to get the kids to learn Spanish – NOT.
At that time there was no Rosetta Stone, but I did scour the market and found what there was. Berlitz has always been pretty good. I bought their cassettes and memorized them. “Hola Pedro. Como está? Donde está María?” and so on. We found a video set that assured us our kids would learn Spanish. They did watch the videos and would mockingly say “Zozo está listo para los panquekes?”