Happy European Languages Day!

Happy European language day everybody! Being a language student, I thought I would write a post about it and share with everybody my humble thoughts on language learning. 

Throughout Europe, roughly 800,000,000 Europeans represent the Council of Europe's 47 member states and they in turn offer a diverse array of different languages and dialects. In the European Union itself, there are 24 official languages; some are linked together from a common ancestry. 

But why should we waste time learning other languages when we are content with using English in our day to day activities? Well firstly, physiological studies have shown that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. In fact, the brains of bilinguals operate slightly differently when compared to monolinguals and these differences are very beneficial to the way we think. In fact, some go as far as saying that language change the way we think so much, some native speakers of other languages think differently to how we do.

But without even indulging ourselves in the many scientific terminologies and statistics, there are many other reasons why one should consider learning another language. Emigration- why should we limit yourself to just living in one country if we are capable of another language? Surely we would not then be hindered into moving elsewhere due to a language barrier. Without even considering the element of culture, I can think of quite a few places on Earth were an umbrella is less than essential!  

Family and friends- this is also very important. Statistically speaking, those who speak more than one language have a wider network of friends and colleagues around the world. This is surely a useful thing to have? Furthermore, one also benefits from different job opportunities offered around the world. If you are a student, being able to speak another language enables you to carry out your research or your study abroad in other institutions where there are world renounced experts in your chosen field.

In addition, due to the historical development of our languages, one can often realize fascinating aspects of our own past through learning and comparing different languages. For instance, when I was talking to my friends recently about the topic of "untranslatable words", I learnt that there are many exciting and ever so useful words in other languages that English simply does not possess. "Złota Jesień", is the Polish term for a "golden autumn", with connotations of the beautifully hued red, yellow and orange colours that paint our autumnal scenery every year. Or that the Italian word "culaccino" refers to the annoying mark left by a cold glass on the coffee table- WHY do we not have this word?! Not to mention the Swedish word "mångata" used to refer to the reflection the moonlight makes on the gentile waves of the sea- how romantic!
Personally, I have benefited from learning languages greatly in terms of traveling this year. Yes, it is true that one can still travel without speaking another language but I am certain that my travelling experiences this year would not have been anywhere the same had I not been able to speak the languages that I do. Meeting interesting people in the Biergarten in Bavaria or going to cafés in the "hip", "Bohemian" quarters of Trastevere, speaking to locals in Beijing about the "Fengshui" of the Imperial Palace or going around tapas crawls in Andalucia- the experience would simply not had been the same without making an effort to speak their own language about fascinating aspects of other cultures such as food, religion, history and politics! I am proud to say that learning languages has enabled me to appreciate their culture in a different light, widening your horizon without such a language barrier. 

So let's not be disheartened by ridiculous cliches about how the useless it is to learn Czech because "nobody speaks it" or how "German sound rather too barbaric for my liking", carpe diem and learn a language today! (such a cheesy ending). 


Best,
Marcus 

P.S.- Sorry about the lack of posts regarding my recent travels, but I am a bit too occupied trying to prepare for Michaelmas 2013. I shall upload them very soon! 

P.P.S.- Sorry about the incoherence and spelling mistakes in this post; I am trying out a new dictation software which allows me to quickly type up a post! :) 

¿Qué pasó en Barcelona?

Well, this is the first proper post on this blog and it's quite a big one! A flashback rather, to the infamous partying holiday of post-A/Level-celebrating-student days! After months of planning, (well I say planning...), and juggling time with revision and what have you, I was certainly ready for that release of stress, the independence and of course, to drink away with friends in one of Europe's most beautiful and electrifying cities- Barcelona.

--> My packing pedantry... Does anyone else do this or should I see a doctor?

Our hotel was about an hour away from the centre of Barcelona- on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, in a vibrant holiday town called "lloret del Mar". The weather was as non-English as it gets, over 30 degrees celsius from what I recall, but we had the refreshing sea breeze to cool us down from the heat and so we were as blissful as ever.

The first night will stay with me forever- genuinely. After a slight hiccup at the hotel check in, we immediately thrown ourselves into the wide sandy beach, plunging into the cool, azure, clear sea. We sat on the beach; the gentle waves of dusk swooshing in and out around my legs; a bottle in each hand (part of the drinking game- drinking cascade with each wave!) and not to mention a gorgeous hue of the Mediterranean Sea at sunset. This was life.

--> Birthday lunch on a cliff top café after boat trip! Stunning view!!


I have studied Spanish before, for about 3 years, but have never visited the country. So as we journeyed into central Barcelona by the train (which displeased a friend of mine very much as he was scammed by a Russian woman into giving up his seat as she apparently had a stomach upset and ended up firing curses at her), one could only imagine the mixed bag of excitement and anticipation at entering such an international hub, especially after the stern caution given by our very rather motherly hotel receptionist- Silvia, about pick-pockets...

--> Stunning mural decorations!

Well what can I say? I could have not asked for a better first impression of the city. We had lunch in the beautifully picturesque cobbled streets of a romantic European capital. It seems as though it has become a cliché to talk about European cobbled streets but there is nothing cliché at all when you see it first hand- the colorful scenery of street performers, markets selling exotic fruits of all sorts, the blooming flowers hung in baskets from the balcony of stylish apartments looking over the streets, the list simply goes on. Not to mention the food! The food... the food... the food!! Given it was my first lunch in Barcelona, I opted for a traditional Spanish omelette with Anchovies- ¡fué muy delicioso!

--> Inside La Boqueria- What a beautiful part of the world?!


Given her geographical location, Spain profits from the mixture of different culinary traditions and this is without a doubt reflected in the variety of fruits, meat, seafood, vegetables and other produce sold at "La Boqueria". The rich, vivacious scene painted was truly captivating and lived up to its name! It was a masterpiece that stimulating all senses with ecstasy (if that is not too much of an hyperbole, but so true!) The smell of the fresh mariscos, the fragrant scent of pitahaya and of course the delicious smell of chorizos, all readily available in this market- how can Barcelonians get on with their daily lives when so much is worth the distraction around them?! It was time to head off to La Segrada Familia...

On the way via the metro to this world-known religious monument, we found ourselves witnesses of a live demonstration of pick-pocketing in Barcelona that Silva had so passionately warned us about. It all happened so quick it was quite hard to process- but from what I think happened: as the metro stopped at the next station, the pick-pocket leant into a fellow tourist, pretending she has lost balance from the jerk of the train (she was an elderly scammer!) and dug for his pocket. LUCKILY, the  friend of this otherwise woeful victim realized and immediate put a stop to the malicious act and the granny slithered away out of the metro... WHAT?!

--> Outside the cathedral. Magnificent. Majestic. Enlightening.

After such an ordeal, some religious enlightenment and protection seemed necessary. Gaudi's visions really are inspiring. Using natural forms, La Segrada Familia allowed me to embrace religious monuments in a very different way. As one walks inside, they are presented with white columns of, what seemed to me, as inspired by either gigantic tree trunks or carefully knitted spiderwebs. I felt enclosed, protected- by nature, the very creation of deity. (It was also at this point that a female member of the company declared that she will one day get married in this cathedral... Ha!)

We next ventured up to the viewing platforms via elevator, which allow one to oversee the centre city. The psychedelic mosaics of different plants and animals provided a comical angle to the stereotypical serious nature of such religious shrines: from the turtles supporting enormous columns, the gothic-themed statues of saints around the main cathedral, to the Obispos representing the twelve desciples of Christ, every stunning creation of Gaudi could be seen. It was awe-inspiring- truly.

Now at this point, it is relevant for me to share that I am scared of heights (and so is another friend in the party). So after we had taking numerous photos and enjoyed the majestic view on the platforms for a good hour or so, and we had to stumble back down the spiraling tower- one could only imagine the scene we caused. I have a tendency to burst into uncontrollable hysterics when I am in uncomfortable, nervous situations- so many tourists on that day who also visited the famous cathedral had the fortune of finding out, as I laughed my way- slowly and shaking- down the flight of stairs without hand railing! The other friend who was scared of heights asked in a delirious voice, with tears around her eyes, "Who built this fucking thing??!" "Gaudi..." "Fucking Gaudi, what a ridiculous idea, fucking Gaudi..."My laughter and the continuous curses echoed down the tower and as we eventually arrived safely back to Earth, we found ourselves having a group of international audience who were as curious as can be, as to what has happened up in the tower to cause such commotions...

But in all honestly, this holiday for me not only allowed me to visit and absorb a country I have long adored, meeting brilliant people (Carlos, Silvia, Fernando etc.- YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) but also symbolized for me the end of an era- finishing compulsory education and now, the world becomes my school. I would whole-heartedly recommend Barcelona to anyone wanting to experience European culture throughout history in such an animated, zappy city.



Cheers everyone for putting up with my ramblings! Please feel free to comment :)

Mx

Me, Myself and I

Hello all! Welcome to my very own travel blog, where I share my travel experiences and humble insights of different cultures of our truly fascinating planet. :)