A few years ago my husband and I went on holiday to the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador. I was not expecting to speak Hindi in Ecuador, rather I was excited to get some use of Spanish.
On our first day, we went to the Equator in Quito. They have made it a whole experience and we joined a guide who walked us around the area and explained the area’s history and more, in English.
There was an Indian woman in the group who was having a difficult time understanding the guide’s accent. I noticed and started translating it into Hindi for her.
Naturally after the tour was over, we chatted and in true desi tradition she invited us to visit her home if we were ever in her neck of the woods. We told her about the Punjabi restaurant, Sher-e-Punjab, we were planning to try that night in downtown Quito.
Anyway, she messaged me a few days later, while she was at Sher-e-Punjab to say how much she and her husband were enjoying it.
It was serendipitous that I was there that day, could, and offered to help. It made me happy to do it. Language and culture bring people together. In that moment I lived what I teach to my students every day – building connections through language.
Language connects us and breaks down barriers. It is the key to forging relationships with people we wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
Below is a selection of some photos from our trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. And if you’re planning a trip there you might enjoy these articles I wrote on my travel blog.
Visiting the Galápagos Islands in December
Women’s Photography Gear For The Galápagos Islands
How To Decide On a Land Based Vs. Liveaboard Trip To The Galápagos Islands
Want To Learn Conversational Hindi?
We teach conversational Hindi (no reading, no writing). Our classes are designed for children growing up outside of the Indian Subcontinent. And our classes are fun! Your child will also learn about Indian culture to build connections to relatives and their heritage. Students from across the globe take our classes from the convenience of their living room.
Contact us via the form below or visit our website for more info.
About Samta Aunty
I try to be like the quintessential cool Masi, to all of my students. Smiling, loving, and ALWAYS trying to make them laugh.
Welcome and thank you for joining me today! I set out to create an educational platform for desi children to learn conversational Hindi (no reading, no writing) and their culture in a fun, no stress, and convenient way. Students across the globe take our classes right from the convenience of their living room!
I learned Hindi at home while growing up in southern California. My parents were amongst the first Indian and South Asian immigrants to this country and I appreciated their efforts and those of the Uncles and Aunties in our community that worked hard to foster cultural and religious awareness for us first generation American-born desi kids. Especially when they themselves were establishing their lives in a new country.
And now I’m in a position to continue their work. Language connects people. And my goal is to help children connect to their grandparents, relatives and their heritage.
