A question on moving "out" of the country.

[MarianJack]

When I put the "" around out, it is because my wife and I are considering a future move to Puerto Rico.

She is Puerto Rican and a native Spanish speaker. My Spanish is (at best) elementary, although I will do what I can to learn.

Are any of you living in a place where you don't speak the language? How long did it take for immersion to have an effect? Are there jobs in Puerto Rico? What is your experience and what would be your advice?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

PEACE!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. I moved to Peru

I could say "Good morning" in Spanish. Not a word, otherwise.

In a week, I was speaking Spanish. Haltingly, with errors in syntax and grammar, but the people LOVED that I was trying, and everyone was so patient and kind to me, it really was fun.

I knew I could speak Spanish when, one day, I answered the phone and found myself carrying on a whole conversation in Spanish. It was the first time I didn't need to watch the other person's mouth as they spoke.

You'll do fine. Just park your English - I had no choice, I had to eat - and go completely into Spanish. You'll be surprised at how easy it is.

And good luck!

:toast:

[MarianJack]

9. When we were there for Christmas in 2000,...

...I picked A LOT of Spanish which I lost as soon as I came back.

Thanks for your help!

[MADem]

2. You will learn, soon enough. And lots of people speak English in PR

Get yourself a tutor if you're dead set on boning up ahead of time, or just turn on Telemundo and UNIVISION twenty four/seven. You'll get it by osmosis in no time.

I have blended family in Ponce, San Juan and the suburbs.

The job market? Not so hot, to be honest. High unemployment. Special skill might help. There are many pharmaceutical concerns down there--if you're a chemist or something, you might get lucky. You might try for a federal government position (Customs, IRS, HUD, maybe something over at FT Buchanan--not much there, now http://www.buchanan.army.mil/MWR/default.html ...that kind of thing) but I think you would be better off being bilingual, so work on your language skills.

The weather...beautiful, especially in the winter months. It gets a bit warm in summer if you're not near the ocean breezes.

I've spent most of my life in places where I did not speak the language. As a consequence, I speak many languages, some of them very badly! I always managed to do well enough to be understood, and got fair to good in a few of 'em.

You'll be fine. There are cultural differences, but your wife will help you adjust.

Enjoy!!!

[MarianJack]

8. The weather IS beautiful!

We were there for Christmas in 2000.

There is also a lot of my wife's family down there. I did pick up quite a bit of Spanish in that week and lost most of it when we returned.

Unfortunately, we don't have any Spanish language networks up here in Maine. We do have 3 French stations (this is the most French state in the union).

Thanks for the feedback!

[MADem]

11. Do you have "the cable" up there? Or "the dish?"

If you're just getting your signal over the air, it's CBC and that other canadian channel and Channel eight and MPT, if you're up high enough on the map!

You can order the "Spanish language package" from cable or dish in places where you can't get TM or Uni over the air. Might be worth it for a few months, anyway, just to acclimate your ear. It'll help you with the speed of conversation, too. I think it's not as good as a tutor, but it will help. Just leave it droning in the background...you'll be amazed how your ear acclimates.

http://www.allamericandish.com/dish_latino_programming.htm

The PR contingent of my family (a piece of it, anyway) just left from a long holiday. Some like the snow, and some were happy to get on the plane!

[MarianJack]

12. We do have cable,...

...but the Spanish speaking networks aren't in our market. When we first moved here from the Philly suburbs we couldn't believe it, either.

One thing we do have is lots of DVDs with a Spanish translation or subtitles. We're going to start using that.

My wife loves the snow. I'm married to a woman who was born & raised on a tropical island who LOVES the winter.

As for acclimation of my ear, my wife and I have been married for 10 1/2 years and together for a another year before our wedding. In this time, I've frequently had a laugh at the way that I don't "understand" the conversation when the family speaks Spanish, but I usually know what they're talking about.

They refuse, however, to explain what they mean when they point to me and say "Hombre LOCO!" (just kidding).

BTW, Thanks for the link.

PEACE! :patriot:

[Sultana]

3. Well, your Spanish vocabulary will grow once you are immersed in the culture

You'll be fine since your wife is native Spanish speaker. :)

[MarianJack]

6. A Native Speaker...

...and the most lovely lady in the world. :hug:

Thanks! :patriot:

[BeHereNow]

4. The ULTIMATE web site for such questions-

I've been posting it on DU for years now,
and I never stop- it is simply THE best!

http://www.escapeartist.com

ENJOY~~~
BHN

[MarianJack]

5. Thanx!

This will be useful! :patriot:

[KamaAina]

7. !Cuidado! The right wing just took over down there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4786001&mesg_id=4786001

There's always "Nueva York", I guess...

[MarianJack]

10. He doesn't worry me.

He'd more than likely be out of office by the time we got there.