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SpanglishFeb 12, 2009
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Many of you have asked for an update on how our Spanish has been going. I took a couple of lessons before leaving London and know the basics (greetings, time, directions, days of the week, etc) but MS refused to make any attempt to learn the language before we left. He knew Hola and how to count to two (uno, dos). When I asked how he was going to order 3 of anything he said he was going to go "dos plus uno". So you will be surprised to know that he has been actually doing better than me at communicating. He relies on confidence and context which are so important. He has the confidence to walk into any store and try to be understood and he basically "guesses" what is being said to him based on the situation. I, on the other hand, lack the confidence to ask for anything and always try to understand words or sentences which seems to get me into trouble. MS is great at pointing and playing charades. I remember once when we were staying in the French countryside and I had bad hay fever, MS drove to the local pharmacy to try and buy me some hay fever medicine. He came back with it a little while later and when I asked whether they spoke English he said no. But apparently he walked into the pharmacy and held a flower up to his nose and sneezed into it and they got the idea. This technique seems to work pretty well. The other day he wanted to buy a knee brace before our walk so he went to the pharmacy and, as per usual, launched into full English which was met with a blank stare. So he pointed to his knee and then hobbled around the shop a bit and magically the assistant appeared with a knee brace! He almost managed to master the basic numbers in Argentina but when we arrived in Chile, the smallest note is 1,000 pesos so he is back to square one again. But he certainly gets things done. He arrived back as I am writing this and had dropped the washing at the laundry mat (manana means tomorrow was the only instruction I gave him), booked the bus tickets to Punta Arenas, bought mince for dinner and himself some beer - he truly is fabulous.
He also comes back from the shops with the best things - the other day he arrived with the biggest chocolate eclair I have ever seen - it tasted fabulous. We have been eating quite well in South America. Argentina was all about meat and Puerto Natales seems to be big on seafood (although we are yet to sample any). The fruit here is amazing as well - so tasty that we have been having fruit salad for dessert most nights. Although I am yet to sample a mango. I got very excited when I arrived in Chile as I was so looking forward to a mango (my favourite fruit). Every year in London when the mangos start appearing in Sainsbury's I get excited only to realise how truly awful they are. However, they are usually shipped from Chile or South Africa (obviously picked very green hence the no taste). But I am yet to see a mango in Chile - do they really export them all to the UK for me to bounce off the walls in Sainsbury's every year (and believe me, they are so hard they would knock you out if one hit you bouncing off the wall). So I am still on the hunt for the elusive Chilean mango. I will keep you updated....
