Communicating without words!

Embarking on an international internship and learning a new language evokes many important questions. How long will it take me to communicate effectively? How formal will I have to be? How will I understand what is funny in another language….Will I ever get a joke? I moved to Spain with all of the same questions and more. I was nervous about grasping a new language and how it would affect my day to day life. Fortunately, I quickly learned to rely on non-verbal communication, a skill that is a saving grace for all of us who have had to communicate without the benefit of a common language. Luckily the people of Spain are very passionate about using non verbal gestures when communicating.

Clinical studies done over the past 40 years have shown that up to 93% of our communication is accomplished on a nonverbal level, where the true meaning of a communication is indicated not from what is said, but from how it is presented. Relying on nonverbal signals is a great way to ease your transition to a new country, allowing you to enjoy your time! The benefits include improvements in happiness, safety and discovery of a new culture.

While I noticed that my peers and I couldn't always connect with words, the were other common threads. We all wanted to have fun. We were all seeking new friendships. And we were all excited to discover new things. We shared music for the pleasure and drank coffee together for the company. I can remember the simple joy in greeting people in Spain with a kiss on each cheek, and even though it is a common greeting, it is definitely a warm hello!

Living in Spain is an experience to be cherished and a time to dive in to a wonderful new culture. Don’t worry about sounding silly; the language skills will develop. Enjoy all of your surroundings and always communicate with kind manners and gestures. Hasta la proxima!