After the popularity of the first two interviews in this series, with Maria in Vancouver and Jeremy in Berlin, I am happy to introduce open-minded, open-hearted, and multilingual Jordi.
A Barcelona-born cultural explorer in Turkey
In spring 2013, Jordi began traveling around the world, primarily by motorbike, to learn from people from different cultural backgrounds and to share their stories, as well as his own. I met him in Geyikbayırı, Turkey, and although he humbly forgets to mention it, he speaks some Turkish in addition to his other five languages.
Can you summarize your background?
Born in Barcelona until an age I couldn’t let all the world outside go on without seeing it. Moved to Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, South-East Asia, India, Germany, Africa from south to north to Yemen ending up in Turkey for 4 months in the sumer of 2009.
Thought of studying journalism to show everyone what is happening in the world through their window to it (either internet, TV, radio, anything). Came back to Barcelona and studied one year, learning a lot, but, because of personal reflection, quit and started an alternative and independent journalism project: No Solo Travel Chronicles. I am on my way.
What’s your first language, and what is your relationship to it?
Catalan. Family, roots, communication.
What other languages do you speak?
Spanish, Italian, English and German.
How did you learn them?
By going to the countries where the languages are spoken and immersing in their culture and way of living. Trying to assimilate as much as I can by doing, by living, listening, speaking.
What’s important when you are learning?
To be in the place where it is spoken.
Any special methods?
Not really. Just listening, talking without shyness (making mistakes teaches you), socializing, drinking beers, loving…
What do you think about the spread of English?
It’s not bad or good.
It is a language that many people speak, that is everywhere, kind of a common language. I have no problem with it. It is easy to learn.
The matter is to be able to communicate. Without communication there is no understanding. With no understanding conflicts can arise.
People from different countries with diverse backgrounds and expressions in their own languages are coming together and making in English their own expressions, metaphors. The “foreignerisms” are becoming part of our vocabulary, of our daily use.
What’s the result?
In a middle term it can be that brings us to not be able to talk or write in a good condition because of the “foreignerisms” . But it has its romanticism as well.
Do you think you show the same personality when you speak different languages?
Definitely.
What other languages do you foresee yourself learning?
It depends where I am going. If I am going to Saudi Arabia, I’d like to learn Arabic, but then the difference between the Arabic of that region and the one, for example, Morocco, can be totally diverse. If I go to India, Hindi, but then there are, I think, more than 80 dialects there that are still alive. So, it would depend for me where I am going or where I am not going.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, Jordi!
Visit No Solo Travel Chronicles to see a unique collection of photos, videos, and written work based on Jordi’s experiences in the world. He also welcomes collaboration ideas, so if you share a passion for travel and learning, get in touch through the site.
Thanks Mary for another post on the world of language. Miss you totally and can’t wait to travel with you in Turkey in 3 months almost exactly!