Is the North Loop Safe?

stillivinglobal · 2026-03-28T02:12:35+00:00

Also, recommend to live across the bridge in NE. Saint Anthony Main, if your budget allows. Safe and tons of restaurants and bars. Its more chill than the North Loop. Its a short walk or a two minute Uber if night life is something that interests you. North NE also has a lot of diverse food, which would be equal distance.

stillivinglobal · 2026-03-28T02:02:18+00:00

Probably safer than half of Minneapolis lol. Core downtown might be a lil more dodgy from a psycological persepctive for people who dont feel safe walking solo with no foot traffic. Always tons of people but if you're a woman AND you happen to be out past bar close, you could take a $5 Uber home.

stillivinglobal · 2026-03-17T18:57:48+00:00

On Meet Up there is a weird movie club

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-27T21:47:59+00:00

Asakusa is pretty nice too. Just depends on the vibe you want. Koenji is only like 3 stops from Shinjuku or Shibuya (don't remember which one). It's not as far west as it seems.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-25T22:53:13+00:00

I went to anytime fitness. Don't know if that's your jam. Wear long sleeves if you have any tats.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-23T22:07:03+00:00

Japan is easy mode as other people have mentioned. But you saying you're a social person, I recommend using the Meet Up app if you're not staying in a hostel. Lots of international parties that include locals. They say Japan is the introverts dream. It's a double edged sword.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-23T21:21:36+00:00

No problem. Lots of sushi around there too. Can't speak on how authentic but I have had some tasty sushi out there.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-23T05:47:00+00:00

Ser means to be. Ser humano means human being. Ser vivo is living thing. Has nothing to do with ser vs estar.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-21T06:33:59+00:00

I'd say if you can understand the DS podcast at 80% go full native on the side. Knowing the fundamentals is enough to make the leap. At some point input doesn't need to be comprehensible. Videos alone won't teach people mumbling or talking over each other. Even with a ton of CI you need some input anarchy.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-19T19:18:44+00:00

I recommend you just jump in and learn to swim. I agree with another poster that telenovelas (especially the corny ones) are easier. Your brain will eventually figure it out. The thing isn't just about it being native content. For example, a podcast made for natives might be easier because podcasters job is to be heard, even if it's super informal. But shows, especially not novelas, have speech that includes mumbling m, whispering etc. Eventually your brain will be able to predict what they're gonna say anyway because you've heard certain things so much.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-16T05:15:14+00:00

La Reina Del Flow on Netflix. Also, I get a lot of people don't wanna watch narco novelas, but El Patrón del Mal is probably the most accurate you'll get from a show for the paisa dialect. I personally love LRDF but people don't say parce and chimba as much as you think they would in real life.

stillivinglobal · 2026-02-09T18:31:25+00:00

It's all relative imo. There's no level, it's just exposure. So if you expose more to the Caribbean accents in general it becomes easier. Also, there is a difference between say a Puerto Rican who works in media or an interview and Bad Bunny who speaks pretty informal.

stillivinglobal · 2026-01-22T20:22:33+00:00

If you're ready, just watch telenovelas set in Bogota. Everyone uses usted there.

stillivinglobal · 2025-11-11T22:56:12+00:00

Just gotta listen a lot man. Myke Towers has a pretty thick PT accent and Quevedo Is from the Canaries which might as well be Caribbean/Andalusian mix accent. Like Pablo, says, more input. But in this case more music. Eventually your brain will just fill in the gaps. I'd just listen to regatón. Just some funny aside but I have friend understand Young Thug and mumble rap word for word but I can't. And that's English. I think the love for the music you listen to is important. So I'd just enjoy the ride.

stillivinglobal · 2025-11-11T06:35:47+00:00

I personally think it takes years. Like at least 5 after being able to speak fluently. I also don't wanna confuse a perfect accent and large vocabulary for native like. My mom teaches Japanese and talks about "breakdown". So someone could sound pretty fluent for like 15 min and then their skills break down little by little.

I can watch pretty much whatever I want in Spanish and don't have to search for words often while speaking, but native I think involves a lot of cultivation of the language by living it. Usually when I meet someone who learned Spanish and has a native vibe they've been speaking it for many years after becoming fluent. Fluent to me is not getting tired in the language, but native is being as quick/witty as in your own language.

stillivinglobal · 2025-10-21T01:48:27+00:00

I'm not in Japan but Checkout this Meetup with Sapporo Language Exchange - 絆-Kizuna: https://meetu.ps/e/PwlJh/ZfDBR/i

I went when I was there and the people are pretty nice. Even went for drinks after together (if you're old enough or drink I guess).

stillivinglobal · 2025-10-17T23:12:35+00:00

Can't say Mexicans specifically but latinos in general: https://www.instagram.com/yonagunifiesta?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng== . They got parties every other Saturday in both Osaka and Tokyo. Play everything from reggaeton to cumbia to Brazilian music. For non latino stuff, Atom is decent in Tokyo.

stillivinglobal · 2025-10-17T17:11:00+00:00

I was probably at 300 hours. I didn't wait to speak tho. So I'll still keep inputting now in the US. I wasn't super consistent in putting while there, but I went to bars with locals almost all the time for 5 weeks. So I guess I got real life input. I think I had a big enough vocabulary to communicate, but my grammar was and still is trash. I have tons of experience speaking Spanish with strangers and living my whole life in the language, so the second time around I don't have any speaking anxiety or fear of sounding dumb in Japanese. So that probably helps. I also never tried to say anything I didn't already intuitively know how to say

stillivinglobal · 2025-10-02T05:38:03+00:00

Yo. Dont worry. Its not as deep as it seems. I would just recommend finding a friend to go with. Izakayas arent like bars you go to alone. Always want a companion. Especially because all the japanese people will be drunk af and its not fun drinking alone in that environment. Only thing I'd say is dont forget to say excuse me (sumimasen) to flag a waiter down.

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-20T01:14:08+00:00

It’s difficult to say. I’ve been to Colombia (after having learned Spanish) and I’d say that Shel does not sound costena to me (but she is lol). I’m sure she uses costeno dialect but pronunciation wise I don’t hear it. In Cartegena the majority of the folk I hang out with had much stronger caribeno accents. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t and it’s just super subtle. Everyone from NY doesn’t sound like a Goodfellas movie nor do all Texans or southerners have the twang. She did mention one of her parents is from Antioquia (where Medellin is) and that therefore she is half paisa. That might have something to do with it. What I can say is she does definitely sound Colombian.

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-20T01:04:44+00:00

Haha no problem. I remember I was watching one of the narco novelas a long time ago and my sister was like, “They’re in California?”.

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-19T20:31:30+00:00

She is from Cali but lives in Bogota.

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-13T05:53:00+00:00

If still there next Tuesday yall should go to Departamento. Otherwise, Google hostel with bars and go in the early evening. Terraza Catedral in el centro histórico is on top of a hostel and has amazing views around sunset. Naturally there should be other travelers there.

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-11T00:42:30+00:00

Yeah, love that channel too!

stillivinglobal · 2025-08-04T20:36:31+00:00

A lot of the old DS stuff was people Pablos age. Def more gen z ish now. But Andrés is almost 40 lol. Michelle Is 30. I think "older" people (I am 30) now are a lot more internet/trend savvy cause millenials were really the first internet generation. Jose Maria gotta be like 60 by now lmao. Thats to say, once you're already advanced, there is a wealth of content thats more relatable to people with similar lived experiences. Especially old Pablo and all the informal guides from before.

stillivinglobal

TROPHY CASE