I’m doing AirBnb old school while in Barcelona. Staying with a local, upstairs in his art studio. In many ways it’s a disaster.
But in others ways it is magical. The host, Antoni, is kind and gregarious. As I write this, if is just past midnight, and he is showing me his art. It’s not the most ideal preparation for work tomorrow, but those days are many, and the days in Barcelona are few.
Antoni speaks English, sort of. I try and speak Spanish but I end up just speaking French. We work around it by speaking slow with a lot of expression, but when we go deep, we turn to a new but trusty pal.
ChatGPT instant translation is incredible. I speak English, he speaks Catalan, and now we have 90% of a conversation. It isn’t perfect, and a lot is missing, but this has been a beautiful way to converse and learn.
Technology is rightfully criticized by pulling us apart, but we shouldn’t forget when it brings us together.