As we are feeling more and more settled here one of the things we have begun doing is language learning. If you have ever tried learning another language you know how difficult it can be. Every single day, whenever we go anywhere, we feel in adequate and usually a bit dumb or silly when we don't know the basic words for things. Thankfully, it seems most people have a good sense of humor about it and we are able to figure things out after awhile. However, it does get frustrating when you are looking for something specific and you have a crying toddler and the store has been rearranged and you can't ask where they moved the item to and you are in a hurry because people are starting to glare at you for having a screaming child ... you get the picture. Times like that are not fun and you wish you could just say...where did the milk go? Where can I find....?
Recently, we went to a gathering of sorts where there were a number of other foreigners that spoke English. It actually felt strange to have an intelligent conversation in English and be understood and understand the whole thing. Our kids seemed to really enjoy it and I think it was because it was the first time they had heard someone other than us, speaking English in over a month and there were English speaking kids their age. Things you never really thought you would miss or take for granted until you are here.
While I am excited to learn another language and I am hopeful that my children will grow up bi-lingual it is still a challenge. Everything is a language lesson. I had 6 hours of language learning this week and while that might not seem like much, its almost more than I can take in. Trying to remember it all is a challenge.
So we watch TV. Something we took for granted before and to be honest, we never really watched TV. We didnt even have one for the last year and a bit. Now however we find ourselves watching lots of kids shows. Not in English. This is a great way to learn as they speak slower, often repeat things, spell things, count, show objects with the words etc...its helping kids learn things like "apple" which picture has an apple? Helpful for us since this is our level of the language. Learning the alphabet and how to count and all that basic stuff. And I think our kids will learn this way too. I am feeling a sense of accomplishment that I can now say (and spell) the fact that I am wearing a blue shirt. My language teacher was doing a happy dance for me. Also, i know know what to call a tree, pencil, the sea, a boat, open and close the door, stand up, sit down...etc. I feel like i have learned alot until I try to have a conversation and then...well I probably just have a blank look.
Just as a side note...it took 3 language lessons before I was able to correctly pronounce the name of the town we are in. Every time I take a taxi and say the name, they give me a look. When I said it to my language teacher she gave me a look and we spent the next while working on it.(She speaks no English so I am forced to learn and communication is interesting. I think it will be good though)
Anyways....
that is all for now. We are off to a retreat/conference thing for the weekend. Should be good.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Its been awhile
Sorry It has been so long since I have posted anything here. We had internet from our neighbours but we unknowingly used up their quota and so neither of us had internet for about 2 weeks. Then we had to wait a while for TTNet (the local internet company) to get our internet up and running. Let me just say that while it is great to have companies who come to the house and do things for you, it is always interesting when you dont speak their language and they dont speak yours. I think they came 4 times before everything worked properly.
The place we live came with a dishwasher. We were told it was broken so we did not use it. Then our landlord asked us to try it so that he could get someone to fix it. Since it is here it might as well work. It leaked all over the floor. We had to roll up our pants and cook in puddles for 2 weeks before it stopped leaking. We had the plumber come (3 times) to look at it and finally the company that sells that brand came and fixed it withing 10 minutes. No More Water!! Works great! Why that company did not come in the first place??? No Idea. Just another cultural thing apparently. (at least that is what our landlord keeps saying-you are experiencing the real way of things here!)
Anyways, now that most of the little issues have been fixed we are feeling pretty good. We are still waiting for the TV guy who has called numerous times but as soon as we say anything in English he hangs up. Even when we did say (in the language) call our landlord and gave his number - he still hung up. We are so thankful to have a landlord that is fluent in English and can help us out. He has called on our behalf many times and taken Andrew places to get things done. Definitely faster and easier when you have someone who knows how things work and can speak the language.
Other than sitting at home waiting around for people to show up, we have been exploring. We have gotten to know the grocery store well as we feel like we are there every other day. We are learning that we can only buy enough produce and milk for about 2-3 days at a time or it goes bad. WE bought the same amount of milk as we were used to at home but the 3rd day it had all congealed in the container and was sour.
Thursdays (today) are the days when the bazaar is in our area. I checked it out last week with child #1 and it was great! Awesome produce, great selection! You can buy everything from underwear, slippers and clothing to salad bowls, tongs, hair accessories, jewelery, produce and cheese, baby items. Literally everything. Its like superstore but outside. I will definitely make one of my produce shopping days the day of the bazaar. For some reason the grocery stores rarely sell things like bell peppers, artichokes, and zucchini, all of which I found at the bazaar and they looked like super good quality. The one thing that I have not found yet but I am told one guy sometimes sells it at the bazaar is cilantro. Hopefully I can find some as I have been making my own salsa since that is something else they don't really have here.
We have been enjoying the food here and other than cilantro and basil (fresh or dried) you can pretty much get everything we are used to. Since there is no pork products here most of the lunch meat and sausage is made from beef or chicken. We tried some sausage and while it tasted great, we all came down with the flu/food poisoning that night so needless to say, i dont think we will try it again at least for awhile.
This week we are starting language learning. I have a few language helpers I need to call and Andrew is meeting with a guy tomorrow night for his first lesson. Wish us luck. Not sure how this learning will go but I am encouraged by all the other foreigners I have seen that are decent and have been here under 3 years. Ok. Well I will post again soon. Not as long as last time.
I am on a fast this morning as I have to run to the hospital to do some (routine) bloodwork so hopefully it goes smoothly and I can eat soon. Im not very good at not eating. Anyways, until next time.
R
The place we live came with a dishwasher. We were told it was broken so we did not use it. Then our landlord asked us to try it so that he could get someone to fix it. Since it is here it might as well work. It leaked all over the floor. We had to roll up our pants and cook in puddles for 2 weeks before it stopped leaking. We had the plumber come (3 times) to look at it and finally the company that sells that brand came and fixed it withing 10 minutes. No More Water!! Works great! Why that company did not come in the first place??? No Idea. Just another cultural thing apparently. (at least that is what our landlord keeps saying-you are experiencing the real way of things here!)
Anyways, now that most of the little issues have been fixed we are feeling pretty good. We are still waiting for the TV guy who has called numerous times but as soon as we say anything in English he hangs up. Even when we did say (in the language) call our landlord and gave his number - he still hung up. We are so thankful to have a landlord that is fluent in English and can help us out. He has called on our behalf many times and taken Andrew places to get things done. Definitely faster and easier when you have someone who knows how things work and can speak the language.
Other than sitting at home waiting around for people to show up, we have been exploring. We have gotten to know the grocery store well as we feel like we are there every other day. We are learning that we can only buy enough produce and milk for about 2-3 days at a time or it goes bad. WE bought the same amount of milk as we were used to at home but the 3rd day it had all congealed in the container and was sour.
Thursdays (today) are the days when the bazaar is in our area. I checked it out last week with child #1 and it was great! Awesome produce, great selection! You can buy everything from underwear, slippers and clothing to salad bowls, tongs, hair accessories, jewelery, produce and cheese, baby items. Literally everything. Its like superstore but outside. I will definitely make one of my produce shopping days the day of the bazaar. For some reason the grocery stores rarely sell things like bell peppers, artichokes, and zucchini, all of which I found at the bazaar and they looked like super good quality. The one thing that I have not found yet but I am told one guy sometimes sells it at the bazaar is cilantro. Hopefully I can find some as I have been making my own salsa since that is something else they don't really have here.
We have been enjoying the food here and other than cilantro and basil (fresh or dried) you can pretty much get everything we are used to. Since there is no pork products here most of the lunch meat and sausage is made from beef or chicken. We tried some sausage and while it tasted great, we all came down with the flu/food poisoning that night so needless to say, i dont think we will try it again at least for awhile.
This week we are starting language learning. I have a few language helpers I need to call and Andrew is meeting with a guy tomorrow night for his first lesson. Wish us luck. Not sure how this learning will go but I am encouraged by all the other foreigners I have seen that are decent and have been here under 3 years. Ok. Well I will post again soon. Not as long as last time.
I am on a fast this morning as I have to run to the hospital to do some (routine) bloodwork so hopefully it goes smoothly and I can eat soon. Im not very good at not eating. Anyways, until next time.
R
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)