Si, smile and nod

I am trying very hard to expose myself to the people, culture and language.  I thought I could create my own immersion.  In reality this could take awhile.  In the meantime each day has a comical learning experience.

The problem lies in that being around Spanglish in Texas one assumes that there are a few common English words that can keep the conversation alive.  I, apparently, took that assumption into a whole other country and culture.  WRONG.  The outcome is that as soon as I cannot recall a verb to bunch my nouns (that I do remember) together the possibility of an interaction comes to a painful screeching halt.  Not to mention it is easier to speak than to understand.

My day begins with my interpreter leaving me to my own devices (or lack thereof)

So the standard mode of recovery is say Si, then smile and nod.  On an adventurous day it will be precluded by Lo siento, Hablo un poco (I am sorry, I speak a little Spanish).

This strategy gets me by, but 90% of the time doesn't get me what I want. 

An example being.  Many things can happen at a store.  One, you must always get a bar code from a lady near the produce or bread section.  If you do not, the cashier has to run back into the store to do so.  This give you time to say Lo siento at least 5 or 6 times to all of the customers behind you.  Smiling all the while.  Once the cashier returns there will be a string of questions that follows.  I cannot image what they are.....donating to a cause, cash back, etc.  So in the grocery store I have learned to so No and smile at the cashier.

Sunday at the grocery store.  You cannot tell me this makes Costco look easy?

So many potential people to get mad at this gringo in front of the line.

While in small department stores you must "check out" at one counter then take your receipt to another to pay.  Your product is then transported to that counter.  What is up with that?  There seems to be no practical since especially in very small stores.  All I can think of is it keeps theft at a minimum among employees.  It seems highly unlikely for theft from anyone since all stores are manned with guards everywhere.  Smile and nod, smile and nod.

I can't seem to get down the proper response when I want to take my food with me; or leftovers boxed to go home.  This is very frustrating.  You can get very good pizza here and since I spend most of my day alone one day I decided to sit outside and get a pizza (by the way they are served as one size....large).  After eating my fill I was dying to take home for lunches later.  I was all set to ask for it to go (thanks to my handy dandy Iphone permanently planted on the Spanish dictionary website).  I thought I was very clear in my Spanish statement, but when the waiter tried to confirm what I said, I said "Si, smiled and nodded."  I apparently agreed that I did not want it.  Adios pizza pie.

This to me is the saddest part of my day, my neighborhood grocery (local style 7/11).  It is right outside my front door.  It is so easy to get milk or eggs.  Just a few steps away.  A few steps away from constant humiliation that is.  I cannot for the life of me understand the owners pronunciation of my total owed.  Since it is small they have no cash register, just a calculator.  I try hard, very hard each time.  I find myself always taking large bills to pretend I understand but need change.  In the end he now just turns the calculator around for me to see.  Sad, sad state of affairs.  You would think that would be the end of the pain.  However, learning to count out the gazillion kinds of thousands of pesos is humiliating in and of itself.  For an example 5000 pesos is about $10.  Not to mention there is many different looking $1000 bills.  No, not just one, but a few..... and in lovely different sizes to beat.  What is up with that too?

So I guess my lesson shouldn't be to say Si, but rather No.  However, once you say no it must be followed with a statement or conversation.  At this point losing my pizza is better than yet another painful attempt to converse.  In other situations assume nothing and hand over a $20000 bill.  All of which will at least put you in a safe zone for your ego.

Here is the place wherein I divulge to Buddy the comical day of learning from his esposa's Chilean experience.

...........so while in Chile say Si, smile and nod.......or maybe not......

.....................................just smile I guess................

From Texas to Chile

Cindy