December 2015: a time when everyone was contemplating New Year’s resolutions. Eat healthy. Exercise regularly. Quit smoking. They all made my list. But, I also vowed to immerse myself in a familiar yet foreign tongue—Spanish. Having been raised in a country colonized by the Spaniards for 300 years, and now living in the the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, I needed to finally master the language. My desire and curiosity led to hours on the internet. Guided by my passion for culture and cuisine, I wanted to travel to a country I’ve never been. A place with delectable food, of course. A place where nobody knew me. And where people didn’t speak much English. I took a Facebook poll so friends could help me decide. Lima, Mendoza and Santiago were contenders. But further research led to the discovery of Nueva Lengua In colombia.

I decided on the capital, Bogota—a city of 8 million people. The Rolos speak a very neutral, clear and gradual form of Latin American Spanish. Of course, they have their fair share of idioms and slang but these are things that give each place flavor.

Nueva Lengua it is a language school that’s very conveniently located in the Quinta Camacho neighborhood. They offered to match me with a host family but I opted to have my own apartment in Chapinero, about a 10-minute walk to school. Being a New Yorker, I prefer walking over public transportation. Fortunately, I only took their public transport system, Transmilenio, once for the experience. (It’s the lifeline of the city but it’s a grueling experience being packed like sardines.)

On my first day, I was placed in a very small class of three—Lukas, Kasper and myself. And we eventually advanced onto the next level—in a class of six to seven students. It was great learning from everyone—their questions, their stories, and even their mistakes. The professors were always encouraging. They were serious yet casual. Classes were broken down into two parts: grammar and conversation. Additionally, the staff at Nueva Lengua believed that learning Spanish shouldn’t be solely confined in the classroom. So they leveraged their rich Colombian culture. From dancing cumbia, making arepas or playing tejo, there was always something fun and memorable to help us improve our Spanish skills. And always, laughter was commonplace and the camaraderie palpable.
March 2016. Although I’m better, I’m hardly fluent. Yes, I’ve learned salutations. I’ve learned about infinitivos. I’ve even learned some jerga. But being back home, I realized I didn’t only learn Spanish. I learned that I have a special place in my heart for Bogota. For Nueva Lengua. And for all the new friends I’ve made and that I miss everyday. I wish I stayed longer. But I already promised myself that I will soon return.
Lo prometo…Juan

This article was originally written in English