I moved from the US to Spain and fell in love. Despite the difficult language barrier, we're still together 2 years later.

I moved from the US to Spain and fell in love with a man who doesn't speak English. In some ways, the language barrier made our communication skills stronger.Kiersten BrownI moved from the US to Spain and fell in love with a man who only speaks Spanish.I have an intermediate level of Spanish, but we struggle to understand each other and our friends.In some ways, this made us better at communicating and dedicated to learning each other's languages.When I moved from the US to Spain to build a new life, I hoped to find someone to share it with.I mostly dated men who spoke both English and Spanish, but never felt a true connection — until one night at a Latin dance event when I was paired with my now-boyfriend.There was an instant spark, and we started dating even though he only speaks Spanish and I have an intermediate level of Spanish. Love Business Insider? Log into Google and make us a preferred source. Together, we've made our way through awkward first dates and some frustrating interactionsAlthough I speak Spanish, I still have a lot to learn.Kiersten BrownWhen we started dating, I worried that certain language dynamics, specific to the region we live in, would hinder our communication.We live in the region of Andalucia, specifically in a city called Jaén, where locals are known for speaking fast, shortening words and not pronouncing the "s" in them, and using unique phrases that can't always be translated into English.However, the more time we spent together, the more we adjusted to each other's needs. My boyfriend learned to speak slowly and fully pronounce his words, and I focused on learning more Andalucian phrases.For the first couple of dates, we stuck to topics I was comfortable speaking about, such as work, interests, hobbies, and why I moved to Spain.We discovered that we had similar tastes in music and hobbies, which strengthened our connection.My partner and I struggle with a language barrier sometimes, but we're both learning.Kiersten BrownAfter several months, conversations became longer, laughter was constant, and we eventually decided to make things official.However, becoming a couple only made the language differences more apparent.I naturally speak slowly, especially in Spanish, since I often translate in my head before responding. Because of my slower pace and my boyfriend's inherent way of speaking fast, he'll sometimes finish my sentences for me and often mispredict what I was going to say.At first, this frustrated me. I felt like I didn't have the space to fully express myself.The language barrier became even more noticeable when we hung out with his friends. They're incredibly welcoming, but don't speak English. Though I can follow most conversations, there are moments when I get completely lost.During one get-together, we were at his friend's house for paella, a traditional Spanish dish. His friends were reminiscing about their teenage years and joked about how my boyfriend always wore a "chándal," or sweatsuit.I didn't know the word at the time, so even though I understood the setup, the punchlines weren't landing for me. I chuckled along, but I felt insecure because I didn't fully understand the conversation.When we spend time with my friends, the dynamic shifts. During my birthday dinner last year, my group of friends and I started off speaking Spanish, but slowly drifted into English.There were moments when we were laughing and swapping jokes that my boyfriend couldn't follow. Later that night, he told me he didn't mind, but he did feel left out.The important thing is that, throughout all of these moments and misunderstandings, we've been able to openly talk about how we feel and figure out how best to move forward as a couple.We've become great listeners and stronger communicatorsI no longer feel pressure to speak perfect Spanish with my partner, but I keep learning more phrases.Kiersten BrownSo, yes — I fell in love with someone who doesn't speak English, and I've never been happier.Although these language gaps have contributed to awkward moments, they've also made us more aware of each other's feelings.We are more patient with one another and intentionally communicate with one another rather than just saying whatever is on our minds.In the beginning, I felt pressure to speak perfect Spanish and rarely admitted when I was lost. But letting go of my ego and embracing vulnerability helped us grow closer. We listen to each other to understand versus respond.I know he loves me for who I am, not just how I present myself. And as my Spanish improves and he picks up more English, I believe our bond will only deepen.Read the original article on Business Insider

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