Communication Issues
Here are some of my most memorable errors of the past few days:
1. "How was pilates?" my Chilean mom asks me. "It was great," I say, "except my men hurt a little bit." For the record, the words for shoulders (HOMBROS) y men (HOMBRES) are deceptively similar. To clarify, it was my shoulders that were hurting a little bit after pilates.
2. I am trying to coordinate the purchasing of concert tickets with a friend. I say, "Ugh, I don't have any change because I went to the ATM the other day and when I tried to take out money the machine spoke to me..." My poor, dear Chilean friend looks terribly confused. I have to explain to him that what I meant to say was that the machine gave me (ME DIO), not that it spoke to me (ME DIJO). The machine gave me only 20s, and that is why I have no change.
3. Leaving the library, I accidentally scream at my friend, "Be careful!!!" when I try to use the Chilean equivalent of the phrase "Take care." He looks to the left and right and then goes, completely straight-faced, "Of what?"
Such is the life of a gringa.
jajajaja me gusta mucho!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have no idea how I have Chilean friends! I honestly spend half my time saying, "ehhmmm" and the other half apologizing for not being able to speak Spanish!!! It is probably my winning smile. :D
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Looks like I'm going to have to brush up on MY Spanish, in order to keep up with you and Elisa.
ReplyDelete....and yes, that winning smile IS special, but I can think of many more reasons for your Chilean friends to want to be part of your life.
Love you,
Grandma
P.S. Jasmine and Rex told me to tell you, they send their love and kisses.
Love this....very funny! But now I have to go do lesson plans :(
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember you doing the same thing in high school - in English! LOL
ReplyDelete--Broff