Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Can Make Me Look Ridiculous
As I write this, I’m sitting in beautiful Puerto Rico, an island which offers many pleasures, as well as a language that confuses the heck out of me. I could ask myself why I selected a wintering place where I don’t speak the language. My ignorance of Spanish has produced many an interesting moment. On one occasion, a wealthy friend was showing me his impressive art collection. Searching for a word to compliment the sizable array of paintings, I told him his collection was baste. Unfortunately, the word I needed was vasto, or vast. Instead I’d just labeled his art as coarse. Fortunately, Puerto Ricans have a wonderful sense of humor. I didn’t help things much when, upon learning of my mistake, I informed him that I was embarrasada. Imagine his surprise to learn I was pregnant. Many of us Americans are ignorant of other languages. One of my dear American friends was thrilled to learn that there was a drug store where he could buy beer at all hours of the night. When my wife questioned him, he showed her the sign on the store reading, abierto, which means open. Does any of the aforementioned give me second thoughts about living here during New England winters? Not for a second. Have any of you had similar embarrassing moments you’re willing to share?
I am sure Dr. Okrant, it is easy for you to learn spanish unless you are not interested in it.
The winter vacation is not long enough to learn everything, but you can pick up some. It is an easyer language than to get your PHD. Go for it.
Cute story! While I don’t believe I have any similar stories; I have always felt that our English language is one of the toughest for people from another country to learn. There is such a variety of dialects across our country; and so many different usage of words spelled the same, that anyone from abroad could easily get confused. Heck, sometimes I have to listen closely to our friends from Boston! We’re down south now, and I’m finding that those who (or is it whom) are not transplants, definitely have that drawl.
I think you’re better off in a foreign country because no one expects you to know the language; here its embarrassing to have to ask a US citizen, “What’d ya say?” 🙂
I thought of this after I posted my comment. We were with those same friends from Boston staying in the same hotel together. He (an adult juvenile) got off the elevator and said that he left a fot in the elevator. I had no clue what he was talking about until I got in the elevator—-If you know the Boston dialect; you know what “fot” is!
Cute story, Dot. Thanks for sharing.