Language stuff (post 3)

While playing a game in which I was a fish, I meant to say that I was tired of being a fish and wanted to be the chicken. Instead, I said I didn't want to be a peach and wanted to be a button (pjeshk - peshk; pulla - pula). Drat.

I had been saying what i thought was "What's new?" like I thought I had been hearing a lot of people say. After getting frustrated that people weren't answering me and sort of looking at me like I was nutty, I asked a friend what I was doing wrong. She busted out laughing. I was saying "The new stairs" (shkalla te reja - instead of Cka ka te reja). What a greeting.

Another language thing: I try to use my limited vocabulary to convey the same meaning...but often wind up making totally bizarre sentences that Albanians don't understand at all.. Some examples: "My nose feels like it's full of slippers" - i didn't know how to say my nose is stuffed. "My stomach is very happy with your hospitality." "Your shirt is same color as when the sun is coming up early in the morning when the sky is full of the same color" (or I just ramble like a fool until I see a head-nod for understanding). "I am full in the mind" - my brain is tired. Wow.
And yet another "thing": it takes so much time to do simple stuff. I spent a hour with my teacher translating and practicing giving very simple instructions for a very simple game. In English - no prep would be needed and would take 2 min. to explain. In shqip - I took time writing instructions in English, attempting to figure it out in shqip, going over it with my teacher, practicing it with her and then on my own, and then stumbling at the youth meeting. That's just for a very simple, silly game! ...after 10 months! And even typing verses and song lyrics takes 3 times as much time in another language for me...and there are always mistakes.

sigh.