It's not often often you get to eat burgers as big as your face, chips, watermelon, and chocolate cake at a beautiful beach on a perfect Washington summer evening, and do it all the company of some beautiful friends, but tonight it happened.
Daddy was introduced as "Habla un poco espanol." I was introduced as "No habla espanol" with a friendly giggle. One time I was introduced as "Esta Myrnie. Canta muy bonita y toca el piano!" (This is Myrnie. She's sings pretty and plays the piano!") The hostess was hoping we'd get a chance to meet her Portuguese friend tonight, and that Daddy would have a chance to talk to her...she wasn't able to come, but we had a lovely time at Jubilee's 7th birthday party! She has many, many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. What a lucky young lady!
There was a time when I thought I knew enough Spanish to qualify as "si, habla espanol un poco." It's pretty clear to me now that most 5-year-olds far outstrip my vocabulary and ability to create a sentence, but I'm still trying! At least I understand the basics of what's going on, even if look like I know virtually nothing when people surprise me and try to start a conversation. I know all the words, but on the fly, new sentences just don't click, especially if they're questions...and friendly little questions so often involve slang or shorter forms of words that I can't fathom what they're trying to ask me. If I can have a few minutes to think about my questions, I can ask people simple things or offer simple services (such as "Do you want me to play piano today?" or "When do you want to visit Sister Ortez?") I've managed to say a prayer in church a few times, and have given my testimony, and even managed to give a 10-minute-long talk, but Google translate helped on that one so it doesn't really count. I'm too scared to answer questions in class, because if the teacher asks me a question in return, I won't have a clue what she's just said without a few minutes to to think about it. I think that's why most people have assumed I don't speak any Spanish at all- I simpy freeze up whenever they try to talk to me, and they switch to English. The very few that can't switch to English (there are maybe 5 or 6 in the branch that aren't fluent) just smile and look as confused as me.
I have a friend who is careful to speak slowly, and when I don't understand, she'll say each word individually until I nod that I understand. It's so helpful and so kind. The difference might be that her English is about as good as my Spanish, so she CAN'T jump in with an English version of the question. We're visiting teaching partners, so we need to talk to each other.
Daddy was introduced as "Habla un poco espanol." I was introduced as "No habla espanol" with a friendly giggle. One time I was introduced as "Esta Myrnie. Canta muy bonita y toca el piano!" (This is Myrnie. She's sings pretty and plays the piano!") The hostess was hoping we'd get a chance to meet her Portuguese friend tonight, and that Daddy would have a chance to talk to her...she wasn't able to come, but we had a lovely time at Jubilee's 7th birthday party! She has many, many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. What a lucky young lady!
There was a time when I thought I knew enough Spanish to qualify as "si, habla espanol un poco." It's pretty clear to me now that most 5-year-olds far outstrip my vocabulary and ability to create a sentence, but I'm still trying! At least I understand the basics of what's going on, even if look like I know virtually nothing when people surprise me and try to start a conversation. I know all the words, but on the fly, new sentences just don't click, especially if they're questions...and friendly little questions so often involve slang or shorter forms of words that I can't fathom what they're trying to ask me. If I can have a few minutes to think about my questions, I can ask people simple things or offer simple services (such as "Do you want me to play piano today?" or "When do you want to visit Sister Ortez?") I've managed to say a prayer in church a few times, and have given my testimony, and even managed to give a 10-minute-long talk, but Google translate helped on that one so it doesn't really count. I'm too scared to answer questions in class, because if the teacher asks me a question in return, I won't have a clue what she's just said without a few minutes to to think about it. I think that's why most people have assumed I don't speak any Spanish at all- I simpy freeze up whenever they try to talk to me, and they switch to English. The very few that can't switch to English (there are maybe 5 or 6 in the branch that aren't fluent) just smile and look as confused as me.
I have a friend who is careful to speak slowly, and when I don't understand, she'll say each word individually until I nod that I understand. It's so helpful and so kind. The difference might be that her English is about as good as my Spanish, so she CAN'T jump in with an English version of the question. We're visiting teaching partners, so we need to talk to each other.
Hahahahaha...glad you guys had fun, and I'm sorry hubs couldn't practice his Portuguese!!
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