It Was Nice Knowing Me
During the past couple of weeks, I've started noticing some differences in yours truly:
Cigarette smoking doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to. Everybody smokes here, I guess I'm finally getting used to it. I couldn't stand to sit within 10 feet of it back in the day. Nowadays I'll second-hand huff and puff with the best of 'em.
I don't mind crowded buses anymore. And I do mean crowded buses. Nuff said.
You really have to live here to know what I'm trying to say here, but I've started grunting like them when I understand something, and I've started shaking my head like them when I don't. It's just natural now, I've found myself doing it with both locals and Americans.
My speech is different even when I try to speak English now.
First Case: I was having a completely English conversation the other day and tried to say the word "Wow". I seriously tried to say the word, but I ended up saying a mixture of the local word for wow and the english word. It came out sounding like "whyyy". The guy stared at me for a second and went on.
Second Case: Again, I was having a completely English conversation, this time with Mr. K. I tried to give him some sugar cubes, and I said "Here's some sugar coobs". Yes, I failed trying to say the word "cubes", and it came out "coobs", like the local way to pronounce a "u".
I won't even go into my mixed vocabulary when I speak English anymore. I talked to Mr. K about all this, and he hit the nail on the head: I'm becoming bi-cultural.
I'm picking up mannerisms, habits, and local ways to the point that it's becoming somewhat sub-conscious. It's not like I've gone native by any means, I wear an "Old Navy" sweater most days for crying out loud, but some things are becoming natural. To be honest, it'd probably be good to lose some of my Americanness. Who will I be after a few years here? We'll just have to wait and see...
Wow! You must be bicultural now. That is a good thing. I can't imagine hearing you have trouble saying "wow" or "cube."
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:21 AM
Dude, you are too funny! That is one of the funniest postings I've read lately, maybe because I can relate. Keep up the good work. Sounds like you're doing "wein" (my cross between English 'well' and Spanish 'bien'). Keep those postings coming. I love to hear what's going on with you.
Posted by
Doug Jett |
7:14 PM
I definitely know what you are talking about. Sometimes I can't even remember the english words for some things. Hope everything is going well.
Posted by
j |
12:18 AM