Arriba, abajo

We came to Colombia to perfect our Spanish. Here we are, over a year and a half later, and Spanish is so natural now that it's hard to remember a time when I didn't feel totally comfortable in the language. I went to the U.S. for a couple of weeks in April, and after just a few days away from Bogotá, I was dying to speak some español.


Yet, because it isn't my native language, I am constantly analyzing the words I speak and hear every day. As a geographer who thought about majoring in linguistics, I love finding the overlap. My favorite example here in Bogotá is when giving directions. The mountains are on the eastern side of the city, with the city sloping down towards the west and leveling out to a fairly flat valley. 

Monserrate and the other mountains to the east

When you ask a rolo or rola (local slang for someone from Bogotá) how to get from point A to point B, they often explain that a certain spot is arriba (up/above) or abajo (below) another landmark or street instead of using "east" or "west." At first, I had no idea what the hell they were talking about, until one day it dawned on me – they're referencing the mountains! Arriba means it's closer to the mountains, while abajo means it's away from the mountains. Though this isn't the same as the Guugu Yimithirr, it's fascinating how the local geography is deeply embedded in the language. I now use arriba and abajo daily without thinking about it.


While living abroad you constantly have to challenge your cultural assumptions and your comfort zone when it comes to language. At the office, one of my interns consistently refers to me as Ud. or Sumercé (an even more formal version of Ud., you, from a certain part of Colombia, Boyacá). Every time she says it, I cringe a little bit inside. I've thought about asking her to tutearme – refer to me with the more informal tú – but then I remember that she uses that convention because it makes her feel comfortable and I just need to get over myself.


Speaking two languages every day makes my brain work harder. Spanish is a part of who I am, and whenever we do go back to the U.S., I've got to find a way to keep it in my life.