Hola chic@s,

Espero que estén bien.

I learned a lot of Spanish from my old flatmate Victor 🇨🇱

Although not always in the way you’d expect.

Victor was a chef (cocinero) and also taught at the local culinary school in Santiago, where he taught aspiring hospitality workers how to wait tables.

One evening he invited me to the school with a wry smile on his face.

I wasn’t sure exactly what I’d just agreed to, but I was in for a surprise.

I turned up to the building, earlier than latinos normally would, and told reception I was there to see Victor.

“Eres el gringo entonces” the receptionist replied in Spanish.
“Please follow me Sir" he then said in a posh British accent.

I was escorted into the faux restaurant, where a single table was waiting for me in the middle.

Victor was at the far end, pretending not to notice me.

I was greeted by a young Chilean woman who took my coat (it gets cold in Santiago) and said:

“It’s an honour”.

In another royal British accent.

Slightly confused, I was escorted to my table while ten trainee waitresses stood in the wings, nervously smiling at me.

I took my seat, tucking my knees in under the white table cloth.

Victor approached:

“It’s a privilege serving British royalty tonight. Would you like to have a look at our wine menu, Sir?”

I didn’t know what shocked me more: what had just come out of his mouth, or the fact he spoke near-perfect English.

The rest of the evening I was waited upon like royalty as nervous waitresses poured me chilean vino and served me tiny plates of delicious comida.

After an evening of unjustified indulgence I waddled back home to the flat, only seeing Victor the following morning.

He started laughing immediately.

The cabrón had told his students that I was a Prince in the British Royal Family, no wonder I was being treated in such a way.

So this was how I learned a lot of my Spanish in Chile.

Nodding along to things and being surprised later.

But if I had understood everything Victor had told me that night I probably wouldn’t have gone.

Thank goodness I did, because what a memory that was.

You don’t need certainty chic@s.

Just keep getting out there and being pleasantly surprised.

Un abrazo,
Príncipe Harry

Spanish for living, not just learning

(Know someone who’s learning Spanish but still waiting until they feel “ready” to use it? Forward this to them. They might need the nudge).

P.S - I’ve released a couple of free guides this week. ‘Ser vs Estar’ and ‘Preterite vs Imperfect’. Go wild.