It was far too late for regrets when I unexpectedly won a trip around the world and had refused to take any language course during my childhood and youth seriously. However, I was not willing to reject this chance to travel around least ten countries for a whole year. The first stage was the wonderful London. There is no way for me to describe that wonderful place in words. The only point I feel qualified to make is the prices over there: you just can’t buy anything. I needed to share a room with a French guy and his two smelly cats. Pierre, as he was called, was a lovely guy. He tried to teach me some words in his language several times. But I just didn’t want to learn French at all.

When we said good bye, we promised to visit each other some day. In Italy I found it hard to make friends. People over there were very closed and I shared my room with a Croatian guy called Goran. He couldn’t speak English at all. He had barely taken a Portuguese course one month ago, and as I am a native Spanish speaker, we could just about survive conversation. Goran wasn’t exactly the dream room mate; he suffered from severe arachnophobia and refused to turn off the lights at night as if that precaution would scare away every spider in Italy.

Italy was truly beautiful, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I really loved Prague although their customs were as difficult as to learn Chinese. I could never swallow their food, and couldn't get used to their way of life. In spite of that, I would come back again.

It was very rewarding to me when in Athens, after having asked too many favours to a large number of unknown people, when I could somehow give back some of that kindness. A young Greek guy called Georgalos Papyrous whose father owned the flat where I stayed, after realising I was from Pontevedra he asked me for help with his Spanish homework. So I gave him a little Spanish course.

In five months, my company will send me to Dubai. I am determined not to repeat my previous mistakes. I will learn Arabic in order to make the most of that fascinating part of the world