May 2011: Duaa Al Hasawi

I meet up with Duaa on a frigid morning in May to chat about her experiences in Buenos Aires and learning Spanish. She is currently enrolled in Group courses at BridgeArgentina

Duaa is practically a porteña. Originally from Kuwait, she has been living in Buenos Aires for 2 years, and still has another 2 years to go. She moved here with her husband and two small children when he was transferred to Buenos Aires for his job. Although she admits that Argentina is quite different from Kuwait, she tells me that she likes Buenos Aires and feels comfortable here. In fact, Duaa is quite used to moving around from country to country, as her father’s job took the family around the world, to countries like Canada, the USA and France, when she was younger.

Duaa admits to me that although she’s been here for 2 years, she had only ever taken 2 months of Spanish classes. She enrolled in BridgeArgentina in hopes to improve her Spanish, which according to her “still needs a lot of work”, although according to her teachers, she’s got a good intermediate level and is improving quickly. She’s been taking group classes and finds them more fun than private classes. “There is more interaction with the other students, I find it more interesting.”

The most difficult part of learning Spanish for Duaa? “That would have to be reading. Although, even in English I have trouble reading.” Living in Buenos Aires for two years has helped her develop her listening and speaking skills, so daily interactions are a breeze. “I never have problems speaking, and if I don’t understand people are always very nice and willing to help.”

Duaa has been lucky enough to have travelled extensively in Argentina (check out the pictures of her and her family at Iguazu Falls and in Patagonia!), but they are still some places she dreams of going: “I’ve heard that Mendoza and San Martin are really beautiful, and hope to go there one day.”

Duaa tells me that she didn’t have much difficulty adjusting to life here. Her secret? She found a good group of friends and stuck with them. Among her favorite things to do in Buenos Aires is hang out with her friends. Her tips to other students coming to Buenos Aires is simple and true: “Find more friends that speak Spanish. This is really the best way to learn a language.”