Fluent before 30 - Hola América del Sur!!!: August 2013

So I've been back in the UK for about 4-5 weeks, after the thick end of 11 months in South America.

I actually left for Colombia 1 year ago today and it's 21 months since I decided to do all of this, which feels impossible

My first blog post mentioned my plan to learn Spanish, see Machu Picchu and the Salt Flats, as well as eat steak in Argentina.

I actually managed more than that, by not only learning Spanish, but doing so without classes or a teacher. Without doubt harder, but far more rewarding! As much as I've learnt in 12 months, I've still got so many areas to improve and luckily I still have the motivation to keep studying. It's all I was doing on the plane home!

As well as eating steak and visiting those places, I also managed to see the Atacama desert in northern Chile, as well as the Iguazu waterfalls on the Argentina/Brazil border.

Looking back over the last 12 months, it's been a fantastic adventure and it's shown me what you can achieve, when you find a passion for something.

Toilet seat in Argentina: 'May the force be with you!!!'

There were a number of 15 hours days studying Spanish, which was purely because I wanted to. Not to get a qualification, or because I had an exam in a few days - just because I wanted to do it.

In my previous 30 years, I've never had that.

Better late than never!

Now the plan is to teach myself German in Malta with my better half (we met in Colombia), before we hopefully move to Germany.

And to think I could still be bored, living in Basingstoke, if I didn't snap out of my virtual coma >; )

Enough waffle, some photo's to finish off.......

Below: Villa de Leiva - a lovely old colonial town in Colombia....