I used to date a guy from Chile, he got me started on learning Spanish before we went there for 3 weeks. While he was trying to teach me it wasn't easy becuse I struggled to actually speak it around him because the fear of screwing up and him laughing at me was high.. He actually thought it was cute when I struggled with the words and sentences because I was trying so hard and I would get frusterated, but once we got to Chile in August I completely relaxed.

I struggle with the "rr" sound, and I would refuse to use words with heavy r's, but once I met his friends and family I completely relaxed. They were informed in advance that I was nervous around people even though they did not know about my SAD, not even my ex knew I had it. Needless to say they welcomed me instantly and made me feel comfortable around them right away when they saw how nervous I truly was around people. I then quickly began trying to speak with them in spanish and they would use what english they knew. We were all beginners with the foreign language that was presented to them but their efforts gave me the nerve to try.

I quickly grew fond of Latino's, I have met many more since the ones I met in Chile from different places like Mexico and Columbia. All over the place, and I find that they are relaxed and know how to make my nerves calm. This amazes me.

Okay so the reason I shared this information is because I am still working towards being fluent in the spanish language so that one day I can visit south america again without a translator.

At work I have been encountering many customers who speak Spanish and there is language barriers when trying to give them assistance in the store, while I understand a little bit of Spanish I can not speak enough to help them. So I am pushing myself even more to learn more Spanish now so I can communicate with them more easily.

Is it strange that I have an easier time communicating with latinos? I think it is a little bit, but the ones I have met have all tried their best to make me comfortable, which is more to say about 90% of the other people I have met.

For some reason reading, listening to, and trying to speak Spanish calms me when I am not at my best, and I have a wonderful friend from Columbia who speaks to me mostly in Spanish, while it can get frusterating to translate at times.

I do not understand what it is about the language itself that calms me, but I am not going to complain.. Instead I will continue to study so I can continue to open other doors and work past my anxiety. Perhaps some of my friends in Chile who I still speak with will be open to helping.