It’s been several years, more like 8 or so, really, but I have a renewed admiration for the very hot Puerto Rican, Ricki Martin- and yes, I’m aware he’s gay!! But this just sealed the deal:
Husband is treated differently here speaking Spanish. No matter where he travels, or has traveled, throughout Latin America, his being a Gringo that speaks Spanish like a local opens a lot of doors.
I speak little… OK. Almost NO Spanish. It is a fact upon which I can beat myself up for days. And I do, when I’m down here. Yes, I know… how ‘bout rather than beat yourself up for days, you put that energy to better use and say… like… learn some bloody Spanish.
Right. And you know what? After all these years with Husband and traveling throughout Central America and now owning a little piece of Mexico, where few of our local neighbours speak English, I may probably know more than I give myself credit for. And thankfully, I have learned better than just to keep speaking English… only louder.
As with many Gringos with limited Spanish, the biggest hindrance is that I have zip for confidence in using it. And using it is the key… regardless the quality. That is what we both try to impart to the miscreants- and believe me, they get it better than yours truly. Practice. Practice. Practice. Most people will appreciate your effort and do their best to help you out.
The kids, thankfully, regardless how little they know, are pretty eager to put what they do have to use. I am too, certainly. Eager. Yes. So very eager. But so very chicken-shit! Lack of confidence, inhibitions and being afraid to look dopey always take precedence. Therefore, I say nothing… looking helplessly to my husband like some mindless, voiceless, appendage.
And believe me, I HATE feeling like a mindless, voiceless, appendage!! Aaaaaaaaarggghhhhhhhhhhh!
Will speak Spanish. Will speak Spanish. Will speak Spanish.
Tienelo?!! Gracias, Amigos!
Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down. -Charles Kettering
Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them. -Orison Swett Marden
… when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason. - John Keats
Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve! - Andrew Carnegie
As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives. -Henry David Thoreau
