Thomas D   

★★★★★

Learn Spanish with gamified interactive lessons

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

Alright, if I really had to pick one, and not in a "favorite sweater" kind of way, but a word I find genuinely fascinating, it'd be "sobremesa". You know, it literally means "over the table." But what's so cool about it is that there's no single English word that really nails it. We might say "after-dinner chat," but that doesn't capture the whole vibe. "Sobremesa" is all about that unhurried time you spend at the table after the meal is done – just talking, laughing, digesting not just the food but the company too. It's big in Spain and many Latin American countries. It’s not about rushing off; it’s about lingering, connecting, and just enjoying being together. Plus, I just think it sounds nice, you know? "So-bre-MEH-sa." It just rolls off the tongue. So yeah, "sobremesa." It's one of those words that feels packed with meaning and gives you a little window into a whole way of life. That's why it sticks with me.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

If I had to pick one thing, just one, it’s gotta be the armado empanadas. Now, armado, that's a type of catfish we pull right out of the river here. Not everyone knows it, but it's fantastic. The thing is, when it's done right, that armado is so tender and has this really nice, subtle flavor. We usually stew it down first with onions, maybe some bell peppers, a bit of spice. Nothing too crazy, 'cause you want the fish to shine!

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

Yes, I do! I also speak Italian!

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Growing as a professional, and honestly, one of the greatest things about it is just running into all these wonderful new people as I go. Makes the whole thing even better.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

My hometown? Well, it's not really a city city, you know? It’s more just... this whole life we’ve got here, right by the Paraná. That’s what feels like home to me. And why do I love it? Man, it's a bunch of things. It's the river, for sure. It's just always there, you know? It sets the pace for everything, gives us so much, like those armado we were talking about. Life here isn't about rushing around like crazy. It’s about taking a minute, actually enjoying things, like sharing some good food with good people, watching the water go by.