Say What?

With America being the melting pot of all cultures, most of us have encountered someone who doesn´t speak English, and the often frustrating conversations tht ensue while expaining the most simple things to a non-english speaker. ¨How much cost?¨, they might ask. ¨Where I find taxi?¨.

Although I was not always amused in trying to figure out what people were talking about, I was always amazed that somehow the communication seemed to work. However, since being in Peru I have concluded that what I thought was clear communication on my part to people who didn´t speak English was probably jibberish, and after smiling and walking away they were no better off than when I started talking to them.

Indeed, in Peru we have become that broken language visitor who communicates more with single words, broken and perhaps incoherent phrases, and lots of hand motions and body language. Even when we know or learn a phrase in an effort to communicate more clearly, generally the response from the friendly local draws the same responses again and again from Shanon and I...

¨Como?(huh?)¨ ¨Que?(huh?)¨ ¨No entiendo(huh?).¨

Occasionaly we understand enough that we´re able to get a general idea of what someone is saying, other times the brief conversation ends with a grimace and a nod, a polite ¨gracias¨, and us walking away no better off than when the conversation began.

The first week in Peru proved to be especially difficult to get anything done because of the language barrier--but, this is the life we chose. It really is strange being the person on the unknowing end of a conversation. We decided to work diligently and learn the language better so we are not the ultimate tourismo gringos. Perhaps Spanish classes next week after Macchu Pichu??? What else do we have to do?