The hardest language to learn?

I found this blog and found the insight shared about the difficulties of learning languages to be spot on:

What really makes it hard: personal context

It was me.

I made Spanish hard – I had the wrong attitude, I studied in such a way as to focus on what made it so “impossible”, when I tried to speak it I would constantly think how stupid I sounded and I kept reminding myself how hard it was.

The fact of the matter is; if you tell yourself the language is the “hardest one in the world” you are right! That mantra will keep you locked in an inescapable feedback loop that will make it the hardest language. You will set your filter to negative and find many reasons that support your claim.

A language is not an academic subject, it’s a means of communication between human beings. Communication is hard for reasons of shyness, inexperience, no good motivation and lack of confidence. By propagating this myth of hardest language you are doing nothing more than adding to people’s lack of confidence.

The full blog post can be found at http://www.fluentin3months.com/most-difficult-language/

I'm going to remember this tonight when I speak Spanish, it's all a matter of thinking and pwwwwah Spanish ain't no thing. Or Chinese, 无疑, wúyí.

Edit: That night I meant Lola, who gave me her number and also offered to teach me Spanish, a local dance and let me stay at her place, if I wanted. Bonus--she also mentioned she has a pool! ¡Toma!

How do you say "haircut" in Spanish?

Some things are simply terrifying to do in another language. A doctor's appointment, finding yourself in jail, and I believe haircuts rank right up there with those two.

Why? Because besides the obvious of scissors slashing away near your face, there is the fact that haircuts can go terribly wrong and in Spanish, Chinese, Farsi or Swedish, you may lack the arsenal of words to stop it.

This was a true fear, especially in Baeza, where fashion forward is looking like a clone of the other guy, who also happens to be a clone of this guy. And I certainly didn't want to join the crew, though he is dashing.

Thus, mastering the lingo of the haircut was worthy of some anxiety. When I lived in China, I found it to be the same. Avoid haircuts, but when one must go, pray for the best and bring a student to translate. No, I didn't want that purple tint that woman happened to be sporting.

But as I wrote about conquering fears, I decided a haircut was exactly the cure. Moreover, why not do something wild? So, I did and I can't say it was entirely successful. #SomeThingsJustDon'tWorkOutInLife.

However, there's always the next haircut to stress over.

Comfort Zones.

It's contrary to believe that I don't seek comfort zones. Each human does, no matter how daring he/she is. Whether your goals involve plunging hundreds of feet in the deep sea without oxygen (#freediving http://ngadventure.typepad.com/blog/2010/11/interview-swed-annelie-pompe-on-snaring-new-free-diving-record-.html) or stepping outside your bedroom more than once a day.

Despite our different devices, we are simple beings and comfort makes us indeed, comfortable. In moving abroad, I tip toed in the cold water of risk, but with each day, the risk decreased and comfort absorbed me just as it would've if I had still been in Magnolia, Iowa, the bubble of my hometown. Why? Because like I said, we are simple beings and comfort doesn't strip us bare, like risk, it delivers our preconceived expectations. Sure, many times we are utterly blissful with these results and could be content with this contentment forever. No problem, to each their own, but if you start to hear the static and feel the stagnation, you know: It's time to step out even further, beyond the "honeymoon stage" of your life. For the comfort bubble is like that extra winter weight you need to shed. Without it, we can push personal records (see above link), if we dare. 

Five months in Spain has me feeling the same, I'm ready to step beyond my personal limitations, or at the least, outside my routine. Today is no better a day. And on fear, the Swedish free diver says it best.

That sounds terrifying to me. How do you deal with fear?

"I believe there are different types of fear. There is the good kind of fear which makes me aware of possible risks and helps me assess risk. It's easy to deal with—I just take care of and minimize possible risks, then the fear is gone. Then there's the bad kind of fear, a kind of fear which puts up limits for you and makes you stop doing things you'd want to do. This fear is usually unwarranted and illogical, like suddenly having fear of darkness in the Swedish waters. I got over this by turning my mind over and starting to like the darkness as something cozy and relaxing."

Do something that terrifies you today.