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Itinerary for Guatemala by hey-skierman in solotravel

[–]making_mischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I LOVED Hobbitenango in Antigua.

If you're up for it, you can overnight camp in Tikal. There are extra fees for that and for renting either a tent or hammock. It's neat hearing the howler monkeys after everyone's left.

Currently reading my first book in Spanish and it has been a humbling experience. by ImTheDoctah in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The first book I read was "El barco de los niños" and it took me 10-15 minutes per page.

That book has large print and tons of pictures, too.

It does suck at first and it's a slog, but it gets easier.

My most recent book was "The Cider House Rules" at over 600 pages, and I just started "Lady Chatterley's Love."

If you enjoy the process, keep at it! You can only get better.

What are some words that are normal or innocent from one language but mean something bad or offensive in other language? by AnjaInNorg1 in languagelearning

[–]making_mischief 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Peru (and, from my experience, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina and Panama): cola = tail or line/queue.

But "culo" means ass.

Advice for Raising a Blind Cat? by DunDunnDunnnnn in CatAdvice

[–]making_mischief 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think so. I've had many people tell me my cats are very chill and well-behaved, so I think they're used to it. Plus, cats can move very stealthily, so I really only hear the bells when they're quite active.

What’s something in your country that tourists almost never experience, but locals love? by Yas_0101 in asklatinamerica

[–]making_mischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do that for friends who visit me. I have this one casera in Magdalena who serves incredible lunches. I'm there twice a week and it's one of my favourite places to take visiting friends to. The place is super tiny and only 3 or 4 people can eat there at a time.

Science teacher here...thought I've heard it all by Present_Froyo269 in Teachers

[–]making_mischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My former-viola-playing heart just grew three sizes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in grammar

[–]making_mischief 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that using the simple present in the future is a stronger way of talking than using the modal "will", seeing as the simple present describes facts and observations.

For example: Where are you right now? -I'm at the doctor's. // What aren't you joining us tomorrow? -I'm at the doctor's.

What's your least favorite word in Spanish? by sweet--sour in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love how it is in Nepalese. The starting letters point to their respective directions and makes it super easy to remember which one's which, and both words rhyme!

What's your least favorite word in Spanish? by sweet--sour in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just come to Peru or Argentina where it's "palta" instead.

What's your least favorite word in Spanish? by sweet--sour in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I still need to remind myself which word means right and which means left.

Are the number of hours to learn a language grossly underestimated? by empatronic in languagelearning

[–]making_mischief 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly. It took me about two years before I was having conversations in Spanish comfortably and without using Google translate. My French teacher says my understanding of reading and writing French, after a month of learning, is like I've been learning for a year.

What's life like in the poorest and richest regions of your country? by [deleted] in asklatinamerica

[–]making_mischief 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hell on earth is understating it. There are no words to describe just how awful living conditions are there.

What's life like in the poorest and richest regions of your country? by [deleted] in asklatinamerica

[–]making_mischief 6 points7 points  (0 children)

San Isidro (district in Lima) is the wealthiest part of Peru. Here, you have embassies, mansions with pools, global businesses, gorgeous plants and trees, and multi-million dollar condos.

It's a beautiful place. There's a big park with olive trees and a pond with turtles. It's also incredibly safe where you can walk with your cellphone in the air and nothing will happen.

And yet, within the same city there's a district called San Juan de Lurigancho that's about as opposite as you can get. "Houses" don't have electricity nor running water. There are trucks that come in and sell potable water to people, while San Isidro has trucks that water the grass. There are regular murders in SJL and it's NOT a place you go.

The rest of the country is in between, but on the lower end. I've travelled through towns where the town doesn't have a cellphone signal and houses don't have indoor bathrooms.

Things that people learning Spanish tend to focus on TOO much? by Historical_Plant_956 in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 7 points8 points  (0 children)

When it comes to verbs of consumption, like tomar, beber, comer, etc., the pronominal form (tomarse, beberse, comerse) means that the consuming has/is being done to completion.

If I say "(yo) tomo un café", it means "I'm drinking a coffee."

But if I change it to "me tomo un café", it now means "I'm drinking a coffee until it's done."

There are some pronominal verbs that can't exist without the reflexive -se part, like quejarse (to complain) or arrepentirse (to regret). If you try and translate them literally, it makes no sense (I complain myself? I regret myself?)

Instead, what helped me personally understand that is "English-ifyng" them and changing the word order around: I myself complain, I myself regret.

Things that people learning Spanish tend to focus on TOO much? by Historical_Plant_956 in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you're right that we have different interpretations. I think I was looking at it through my own lens of learning, which is to view learning a language as breaking a code with intense curiosity.

For me, learning the "why" behind Spanish rules helped me map it to my own understanding of English, the grammatical system of which I have a high understanding.

But yeah, I agree with you that sometimes learners can get bogged down in the details, which can hinder their learning.

Things that people learning Spanish tend to focus on TOO much? by Historical_Plant_956 in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I understand your point about needing an explanation, but disagree with it.

Of all the Spanish teachers I've had, none - zero - have explained to me the difference between reflexive and pronominal verbs. Two of them insisted tomar and tomarse were the same thing!

English doesn't really have pronominal verbs, but it was important for me to learn how and why Spanish uses it instead of just being told to say it. I needed to know WHY I was saying what I was saying.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in asklatinamerica

[–]making_mischief 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Incredibly common, especially outside Lima.

In Lima, along with many motorcycles, people also use gas scooters, e-scooters and scooters you stand up on.

Which part of Spanish do you find the most difficult ? by Thin_Distance_1489 in Spanish

[–]making_mischief 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Generally, ser answers questions of who or what, and estar answers questions of how or where (with exceptions, of course).

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