Before The Chaos, Midweek Spark (12/3)

Welcome to the first edition of the Midweek Spark. This is an opportunity for one of our subscribers to share their own life lessons and learned experiences with our Before The Chaos community of 2,500 subscribers. Enjoy!

The following is a shared life experience from our BTC subscriber Theo Crowley out of Costa Rica.

One of the most meaningful things someone can do as an adult is learn another language. Through time spent in Costa Rica and travels across Latin America and Spain, I’ve seen firsthand how speaking Spanish transforms interactions. It’s not just about vocabulary or grammar—it’s about human connection.When you make the effort to speak to someone in their own language, especially in a culture that isn’t your own, something shifts. People open up. They recognize the intention behind the effort, and that respect is given. I believe that this stands out even more because of the stereotype that many U.S. citizens expect the world to cater to them and often don’t go out of their way to learn new languages. Simply trying—even imperfectly—breaks that assumption right away.

If you’re traveling somewhere new, spend a few weeks before the trip learning the basics. Download Duolingo or any language app and play through a few lessons. Fluency isn’t the goal; effort is. Just showing you’ve tried to understand their language and culture creates a deeper connection and a completely different dynamic.

Learning a new language doesn’t just help with communication—it reshapes the way you experience people and places. It makes travel richer, interactions warmer, and relationships more authentic. All it takes is the willingness to step into someone else’s world, even just a little, through their own words.

-Theo