One thing I always talk about is how important it is to reach out and make Spanish connections in your local community. This could be, finding out your neighbour is from Mexico and popping round to introduce your self with a friendly hola or booking a table regularly at your nearest Tapas restaurant and practicing with the owner or waiter.
Where I live is pretty secluded. I’m right out on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, population 450. You’d think it would be impossible to make any sort of Spanish connection here right?
Wrong! I found many;
- There’s a Colombian family who’s children happen to be in the same classes at school as both my girls.
- There’s a lady from Buenos Aires who lives just over the hill.
- A Chilean family live here too.
- In the village there’s a Mexican restaurant (massive win as I LOVE Mexican food!)
- The next town on (15min drive) there’s a restaurant that specializes in South American cuisine. The owner is Colombian. When I contact him to order our arepas, empanadas and paella – I do it in Spanish!
- The first Welsh settlers to the Y Waldfa community in Chubut Patagonia, Argentina came from 40 minutes from here (read more in this blog post).
- There’s a beautiful building called in the next village which dates back to 1857. Today is a gallery, café and event space. It’s owner was one of the founders of the Welsh settlement at Patagonia!
- My Welsh teacher teaches Welsh to the Argentines in Welsh Patagonia!
Connections are out there – you just need to look for them.
And if you really can’t find any try making a tradition, for example on Friday nights we have tapas or on Tuesdays we listen to Argentine Tango. (I’m really hoping someone starts salsa or Tango lessons locally!)
Have you searched out the Spanish connections in your community? I’d love to hear about them!
