My other half is Spanish. He was born on the sunny Isle of Gran Canaria and lived there until his late 20’s when he moved to Madrid for work. Then work brought him to the not so sunny UK where on only his second week he met an exotic red head. That’s right, he calls me exotic! Never before has a pasty red head been branded such an exotic creature!
I’m not the only one to fall in love with a foreigner though. According to a study by Eurostat, nearly 9 per cent of marriages in the UK include a foreign-born spouse. In many of those relationships, the partners have different native languages and intercultural relationships and marriages are on the rise here in the UK.
According to experts bilingual couples can grow closer by sharing their language and culture. Great, Only problem is my Spanish is limited to ordering a jug of sangria (which according to my OH, ‘real Spanish people’ don’t drink!). What’s more, our children will benefit from advanced linguistic skills and sharper cultural sensitivity – if I learn the language that is!
So, I’ve decided I am going to embrace Spanish and learn the lingo as the experts tell me it will help me better relate to my partner and understand ‘where he comes from’. Wish me luck!
Adios x