THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 30/4/19 Abby Lewtas 30/4/19

Living in Spain and the complexity of the english language with Dani Jauregui.

Dani is a Spain aficionado who first discovered the country she now calls home, during a study abroad semester in Alicante, Spain. While studying a double major in Sociology and Hispanic Studies at a small, liberal arts school (Illinois Wesleyan University), Dani was incredibly encouraged to study abroad and she hasn’t looked back since. Danis life since her graduation has been primarily lived abroad.

Dani went to Spain on a study abroad program, she returned many times and now lives there and teaches English. She loves diving deep into the complexity of the english language.

About Dani

“I realise how little we pay attention to our own language and our own culture until we have this opportunity to see the differences from another one.”

— Dani Jauregui

In the episode...

Dani went to study in Spain and loved the country so much that she returned for more study. She continued to return to Spain and now lives and works in Granada.
Dani feels confident with the language and spent a lot of time in Spanish speaking countries so has not really felt outside of her comfort zone.
There has been so many lessons she has learned along the way and has loved learning from the students she is teaching.
How little we pay attention to our own language until we have to explain it and use it with others.
The way we use our words and our language and how it can be used in a more empowering way.
Dani now tries to apply this in her own language so she is speaking in a more empowered way.
Dani teaches mostly in English so does not often pick up the other languages through the teaching process.
How some countries and cultures give words to particular things which takes a while to explain as the English language has not given this ‘thing’ a word.
When Dani returned back to the United States she feels as there is conflicting energy as some people haven’t changed as she has. She also notes that you have missed out on so much of their life and that it is hard to find your place.
Dani thinks that sometimes her friends from home might not want to talk about the life they have been living aboard. Her friends have been able to see what her life is like on social media but may not be interested in learning the details.
Danis mindset has changed and she initially adopted the ‘no-passa nada’ attitude which can be translated to ‘its all fine, just go with the flow!’ But agrees that sometimes its not that easy to live in that mentality when you are setting up your life in a different country.
The advise Dani would give to people who are thinking of traveling, studying or living in a new country is use the resources that are out there to meet people ahead of time, in particular the local people.

Rapid fire round

The last place Dani visited - Sierra Nevada Mountains, Spain.
A place Dani tells everyone to travel to - Granada, Spain.
Scariest place travelled to - Dani has not felt scared in any place she has travelled to.
Favourite thing about travel - Meeting the people.
Dani’s next destination - Valencia, Spain.

Why Dani continue to seek out travel and live abroad? She likes to keep things interesting rather than falling into a routine. She likes to discover and get excited about the world.

“It says so much about a culture, the things that they have bothered to give a word to and the things that maybe we didn’t.”

— Dani Jauregui

Connecting with people to really understand cultures with Claudia Neiman

Claudia is an organised creative which, although may sound oxymoronic, means that she is able to address problems in a open way and is willing to turn things upside down if that makes the most sense. Claudia is passionate about learning and the environment and her goal in life is to be happy (happiness is defined both by fulfilment and the ability to enjoy this feeling).

Claudia has travelled to many different cultures and spent a lot of time living in Spain. She is not in Finland working on projects surrounding cultural differences around the world.

About Claudia

“If you are going to experience other cultures, you are going to experience culture shock and if you don’t, its like learning how to swim without water.”

— Claudia Neiman

In the episode...

Claudia has travelled to many countries with differing cultures.
Claudia felt outside of her comfort zone when she was in Brazil and decided to hitchhike and got into a car with a local.
She spend her first day in class in Spain with the teacher stereotyping Americans.
You have to really understand the culture, you really have to spend quite a bit of time in that place.
The real reason Claudia travels is for the people, the food, the experience that is like nothing that she has had before.
How travel teaches you that there are so many different ways of doing things, not only one way!
Claudia’s biggest insight and learning from travel is seeing how we are all connected and how we can get to know people even if we dont speak their language.
Until we actually connect and have conversations with people we actually have no idea about their lives and their culture.
If you haven’t had the experience of being a foreigner in another country, its really hard to know how difficult it can be to be judged for how you look, your race, sexual orientation, gender etc
Claudia attempts to understand many different perspectives and be open to other peoples opinions.
Travel has taught Claudia that we are all just looking for the place where we fit in.
When everyone follows their own path and does their own things, it makes like interesting.
Travel is what YOU make it! Whatever feels right for you can be the basis of your travels. Do what FEELS good for you.
How travel should not just be about bucket lists and ticking a box.

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Cordoba, Spain
A place you tell everyone to visit? Granada, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal
Scariest place travelled to? Has not really travelled to “scary” places but has had scary moments in Rio, Brazil.
Your favourite thing about travel? Treating herself, people and food.
Wheres your next trip? Scandinavian trip….Sweden, Estonia, Iceland.

Why Claudia continues to seek out travel and adventure?

“The biggest reason that I travel is to put myself out there, to meet other people, but also to question these ideas that I have about myself and who I am and how I see the world.”

— Claudia Neiman

Dylan Bennett - A passion for languages and addiction to culture shock.

Dylan Bennett was born in Darwin, Australia he has a passion for languages and an addiction to culture shock. He graduated as a teacher because it gave him the best chance possible to travel, have since taught in Indonesia, Spain and China.

After finishing university in Lombok Indonesia and after a year teaching in Australia, spent the next 5 years moving every year; Murcia, Madrid, Darwin, Shanghai and now currently in Melbourne.

Living and working in Spain, following love back home to Australia, moving to Shanghai and back to Australia again.

About Dylan

After finishing university in Lombok Indonesia and after a year teaching in Australia, spent the next 5 years moving every year; Murcia, Madrid, Darwin, Shanghai and now currently in Melbourne.

“Surround yourself with like minded globally aware people.”

— Dylan Bennett

When coming home...

Emotions Dylan faced - saw that there were parts his country/culture was not as great as he remembered. "took of the rose coloured glasses!" Felt bored.
Biggest Stress - Pressure to meet to social norms, feeling like an outsider in his friendship group.
How Dylan supported himself - Focusing on the next exciting chapter and getting back into a good routine.
How did his mindset change - Over emphasise the closing off of his adventure.
Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock