Love is something we express in every language, and Spanish is a particularly romantic language (after all, it's a Romance language, i.e. it's derived from Latin). There are so many words to express love, but you need to know which ones are appropriate when. It's important to avoid misunderstandings! There are several ways to express love in Spanish, just as there are in English.

1. "Te quiero": This can be literally translated to "I want you," but it does not have the sexual meaning that this phrase would have in English. A more accurate translation would be "I love you," and it's the most commonly used phrase to express this emotion. You can apply it to a lover, a family member, or a close friend. When you use the word "querer" in reference to an object, then the meaning changes from love to want. "I want a glass of water"/"Quiero un vaso con agua."
2. "Te amo": This also means "I love you,"  but it's used more with a lover or a spouse. "Te amo" generally refers to romantic love, and it's used less frequently than "te quiero." In many Spanish-speaking societies, this term is considered more literary or even overly dramatic, and many people would generally avoid it and stick with "te quiero," or "te quiero mucho," although some still use it.
3. "Me gusta"/"Me gustas": This means "I like her/him" or "I like you," but it has a romantic or sexual connotation, so you would generally want to avoid it unless that's what you mean. It's what a teenage boy might say about a girl he has his eye on.
4. "Me cae bien"/"Me caes bien": "I like him/her," or "I like you,"  but in a non-romantic way. For instance, your friend introduces you to another friend, and you say, "I like her--she seems nice"/"Me cae bien--parece simpática." You can express the opposite emotion with "Me cae mal"/ "I don't like him/her."
5. "Me encanta": This doesn't actually express love. It expresses a strong liking for something non-human, for instance chocolate. In English we say "I love chocolate," but we don't really mean that we have romantic feelings for it, or that we love it as we do our mother. In Spanish, we would never use the same word to express love for our mom as we would for our love of a candy bar.
6. "Me fascina": This is another expression of strong liking, or of fascination or great interest. It's not generally an expression of love, and it's rarely used to refer to people. However, when used about a person, it's an expression of passion, so be careful how you use it!
7. "Desear": This means to want, and it's used in different ways. Many times a host will use the verb "desear" instead of "querer" because it's seen as more polite: "¿Desea una bebida?"/"Would you like a drink?" However, when it's used to refer to people, it's unambiguous--it refers to sexual desire. "Te deseo" means exactly the same as "I want you" in English.

There are several other expression of love in Spanish,  some more literary, some obscure or more vulgar, some are more slang or colloquial. However, the above are the most commonly used phrases, and they are generally used throughout the Spanish-speaking world in the way I've described above.
It's a good idea to review the verb "gustar" and its uses, as well as verbs that are conjugated similarly to "gustar," since many English speakers have trouble with this. Take a look at this previous blog entry to help you  review: http://ferrumspanish.weebly.com/1/category/gustar/1.html.

     Time to do a little research! Spanish is a living language, spoken in a very diverse group of countries. What we call "Spanish" in English is officially called "castellano" in Spanish. Although many people now use the term "español" because of the influence of other language speakers, that is not a very specific term. "Español" technically refers to anything from Spain, and Spain has six officially recognized languages and several unofficial ones--many of which do not share a common root and have little to nothing in common. Castellano comes from the region of Castilla, and is the language that is primarily used for official business in Spain. It is also the language that Spain exported to America and Africa. Also remember that in Spanish the names of languages are not capitalized. In other Spanish-speaking countries, just like in Spain, "castellano" is not the only language spoken and for many people in those countries it is a second or third language. In Mexico there are sixty-eight indigenous languages, among which the top ones are Nahuatl, Maya, and Mixtec. In several countries of Central America the Garifuna people, descendents of African slaves, keep alive their language and culture with great pride. In the Andes, Quechua is spoken by almost ten million people, Aymara by more than two million, and Mapuche by a fewer than 800,000. The majority of the people of Paraguay are bilingual, speaking Spanish and Guaraní, while the indigenous language of the Caribbean, Taíno, has almost entirely disappeared. In Equatorial Guinea, where Spanish is the official language, they also speak the languages of two other colonizers--France and Portugal. 
      The diversity in the Spanish-speaking world is tremendous. This is beautifully illustrated by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera in the mural shown, which I photographed in the Palacio de Gobierno in Mexico City. The painting shows the beautiful city of Tenochtitlán, now Mexico City, just before the arrival of the Spanish. The noun "Spanish" refers to the language "castellano," frequently and incorrectly called "español," and the adjective "Spanish" refers to people and things from Spain. So be careful when you ask someone "Are you Spanish?" The question can only be answered in the affirmative by people from Spain, and could be offensive or at the very least rude to Spanish speakers from other countries. So...educate yourself! Learn which ones are the countries in which Spanish is spoken, what other languages are spoken there, what the origin of those countries might be. Learning verbs and vocabulary is not enough--to be a proficient speaker of a language you must also understand the culture, and in the case of Spanish the most important element is diversity.

Once again, Zambobazo has come up with a great summer booklet to help you practice your Spanish. You pay less than $5 and you can download it online. I recommend this, and the use of their terrific web page with all its materials and fun activities.
You can download the booklet here.

     Almost every community in the United States has businesses that cater to the Hispanic population--go explore a few. You've probably been to Mexican restaurants, but have you been to the Cuban restaurant? The Guatemalan one? The Peruvian or Chilean or Colombian or Spanish restaurant? All Spanish-speaking countries have their own unique cuisine--try it out!
     Another important place is the local Hispanic grocery. It may be very small, but I can guarantee you'll find things you've never seen before. Read the labels and talk to the people who work there. Many times this is the heart of a Hispanic community. Not only will you discover new products, but you'll also make a connection with the people there. I recommend trying the breads and sweets if they have a bakery.
     Also find out if there are flea markets or other places where large numbers of Hispanic people shop. In some communities the weekly flea market ("La Pulga") is also a big social event. People meet, chat, eat, kids play, and this could be a good place to practice your Spanish. Sometimes churches have events, as well. One church where we used to attend has a monthly sale of Mexican food, where the local ladies cook and bring their delicious home-made foods. It's not what you'll find in a restaurant--it's what people actually eat in their homes. This is called a "Kermés" and it's a Mexican tradition.
     Most importantly, don't be shy. Try to reach out to the community and get to know people. As long as you're respectful and sincere about learning about their culture, you'll be welcomed.

Work in your community! Community service benefits everyone involved--especially the person doing the service. Volunteer to work in your local library, or as an ESL teaching assistant, or with a youth group, with a health center, counseling services, or through your place of worship. Try to find opportunities to work with the Hispanic community in your area, and use your Spanish whenever you possibly can. This will allow you not only to practice your Spanish, but also to meet people and learn about their various cultures.

Si quieres practicar el español y aprender más sobre el deporte más popular en el mundo hispano, mira los partidos de la Copa América, que acaba esta semana en Argentina. Pueden mirar los partidos en español en Univisión o en Univisión.com. No sólo practican el español, sino que es más divertido en español cuando el anunciador grita, "¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL!"
Pueden ir a esta página para buscar más información: http://www.ca2011.com/mobile/smart/index.php

     The answer to the question in my last blog? Copán, Honduras, where some of the best Mayan artwork can be found. I then went and spent two and a half weeks teaching up in the mountains above Tegucigalpa, the capital.
     At left is a picture of a "stela," a mayan monument that depicts a king and is intricately carved with mayan hieroglyphs that depict the history of local mayan royalty. They were originally painted bright colors, especially red and green, but most of those colors have been worn off.

Sometimes it makes sense to combine culture and grammar, and you learn about both.
So where can you practice grammar and vocabulary and also learn about culture?  Barbara Kuckzun Nelson's Spanish Language and Culture page.  Click on the banner below and check out this very well put-together web site.

If you go down the left-hand side you'll find songs or other cultural information that will help you review different grammar topics. On the right there is a list of grammar points, and you should try working on the ones that give you the most trouble. Each one comes with an explanation, activities, and links.

This week I'm giving you a culture topic, rather than a language tip. Look at the photo and try to guess where I am.
On a related note, I don't think I'll be able to post a blog next week.