Back in August, I was getting a little irritated at a couple of younger guys who would whistle at girls. Finally, with 3 or so weeks of language study under my belt, I turned around and huffed in Albanian: “I don’t have a dog!!!” Oopsies. I suppose what I had meant to say is that I AM not a dog. Although I realized my mix-up right away, there wasn’t really anything I could do but walk away.
Last week: I was talking with my language helper about what I usually cook for myself (side-note: Albanians are often surprised that Americans cook…maybe bc they assume we either hire ppl to cook for us or because Americans typically eat out so often). I said that I make a lot of spaghetti and the like. Then I rubbed my hands together and said with a bit of a crazed look in my eyes, “And I really like to cook little girls…for sandwiches.” Yikes…I got the words girls and eggs confused.
Other ones: When trying to say that we’ll be able to see Jesus face to face someday, I instead said “head to head.” Or when I was trying to tell our landlord’s daughter that I always like her hair, I said usually instead of always (it’s little, but it’s the difference between a compliment and being a jerk). Or when I said I like shoes (“ker-pu-tsat”) on my pizza instead of mushrooms (“ker-pu-that”). Or when I said that I like to eat buttons rather than chicken (pula vs. pulla…although my language teacher kind of pulled this one out of me).
These are just a few that I’ve caught…which are just a few of the bazillions happening every time I open my trap. Yet it is astounding how supportive and patient people have been with me in this uphill endeavor (even if they do finish my sentences left and right:). Although sometimes they giggle at my gestures (you wouldn’t think that I STINK at charades by the fancy moves I have), most are kind and complimentary. I can’t help but hope that internationals in the states are treated with the same kind of patience and friendliness.
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5 comments:
Oh, Roberta!! This is a hilarious post. Did I tell you about going to the grocery store and asking the pretty-young-store-clerk if she had chicken's breasts...instead of white meat...or when I told the other American to ask the water for water from a the boot, rather than from the faucet. You are the best!
jeff--i don't believe you told me the first one. hilarious:) and totally awkward... The goofiest part of this is knowing that i'm not picking up on most of my oopsies. yikes!
I don't either...until (sometimes) later when I'm thinking about it.
We once had dinner with a new American couple at the "mall" in Llipjan. She didn't want to buy a bottle of water, just a cup from the faucet. I explained to her to ask the waiter for water from the faucet. She want off and came back with a bottle of water...the waiter hadn't understood her.
Only later in the car did I realize I told her wrong and mixed up the words for 'faucet' and 'boot.' Duh. Some great missionary :)
Oh Roberta! I can't imagine all the stupid stuff I must have said in Hindi when I was in India. It sounds like your language skills are trucking along though, which is great! All we can do in those situations is smile and laugh at ourselves, and to try and not take everything so seriously.
Your certainly not the first one to mix up s and shoes. My mentor in Albania once ordered a pizza with shoes. Even after 10 years among the Albanians, I still struggle with distinguishing the l and the ll. I used to try to say, "I'm the only boy/son in my family,", but it always came out, "I'm the only devil in my family." To which my dad and mom would probably say a big, hearty, "Amen!"
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