Free Spanish Lesson 44 – Nueva York (New York)!

Vocabulario semanal – Weekly Vocabulary

ya han escuchado – have already heard

durante ese tiempo – during that time

es una isla grande – it is a large island

comparte su isla – shares its island

cuando vivía en – when I was living in

fui a visitarlos como misionero – I went to visit them as a missionary

vivían en casas pequeñas – (they) lived in small houses

techos de metal – metal roofs (metal has the same spelling in both languages)

con mi pelo rubio – with my blond hair

que era de Utah – that I was from Utah

en la parte oeste de los Estados Unidos – in the western part of the United States

me miraban como si – they would (used to) look at me as if

así como – just like

con una expresión de confusión – with a confused expression

estados diferentes – different states

como si yo tratara de engañarlos – as if I were trying to trick them (past subjunctive)

no creo que – I don’t think that

lo más cerca que – the closest that

he escuchado de ellos – I’ve heard of them

en español por supuesto – in Spanish of course

se preguntan – (you) wonder

ahora saben – now you know

es – is

y lugares como Utah – and places like Utah

por un momento – for a minute

que han comprado – that have purchased

que hemos recibido – that we’ve received

sus amigos y asociados – your friends and associates

con preguntas – with questions

As many of you ya han escuchado, I lived in Latin America for two years among native Spanish speakers. Durante ese tiempo, I got to live in the Dominican Republic for three months. Es una isla grande in the Caribbean between Cuba and Puerto Rico. All three of these large islands are off of Florida with Cuba being the closest to Florida. The Dominican Republic comparte su isla with Haiti where they speak Haitian Creole (which, as I understand it, is a type of French).

Anyway, cuando vivía en “la República Dominicana” (the Dominican Republic) I lived in a city called La Romana. I lived among the natives and fui a visitarlos como misionero for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most of the people that we visited in La Romana vivían en casas pequeñas made with cardboard walls that were supported by a few pieces of wood. Techos de metal were placed on top of the homes to keep off the torrential rains.

As I would meet people in La Romana, they would inevitably ask me where I was from since I stood out as a foreigner con mi pelo rubio. I would tell them que era de Utah and they would ask, “Where’s Utah?” I would then explain that it was en la parte oeste de los Estados Unidos. Me miraban como si a light turned on in their heads and say, “So, what part of New York is that?”

I would then try to clarify that Utah was a state así como New York and that it takes about 4 days driving time to get from New York to Utah. They would then look at me, con una expresión de confusión, and ask “So Utah is a suburb of New York?” I would then again try to explain that Utah and New York were both estados diferentes within the United States. They would then look at me with a disbelieving look — como si yo tratara de engañarlos.

¡Hasta la vista! (“Until I see you next!” – Literally: “Until the sight!”)

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Written by David S. Clark President/Director, U.S. Institute of Languages. Copyright © 1999-2010 US Institute of Languages All rights reserved.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.