tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post3834099828519224580..comments2023-06-04T05:02:08.617-07:00Comments on Latte Love: a few thoughts on the hard partsKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446875699927053176noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-25989804212724824072011-07-03T13:50:01.232-07:002011-07-03T13:50:01.232-07:00Oh, my dear, I know how frustrating that can be! W...Oh, my dear, I know how frustrating that can be! When we traveled to Italy with my dad (he had business there), we were staying in a villa around Perugia for a few weeks. Although we had a translator with us...they weren't around 100% of the time. So, we still had to venture out and attempt to communicate without their help at times. I remember one instance when I stopped the innkeeper lady (her name is Brunella...haha) because I heard that the kitchen there was gorgeous. I remember saying "cucina" and pointing...hoping she'd understand. Instead, she led me into the doorway of the kitchen, opened up the fridge, and handed me a bottle of ketchup. Um...ok.<br /><br />Also, I found it hard sometimes during the multiple course meals we were being served. For the first week, I always politely turned down the meat courses, not really thinking anything of it (I was completely vegetarian at the time). Then one night our translators dined with us. When I turned down the meat course, Brunella apparently began cursing me out under her breath in Italian, as she probably had each night. The translators asked me about the meat, and as soon as I said that I was vegetarian, their eyes got wide. They pulled Brunella aside and told her, I guess, and ohhh my gosh did she feel horrible. She went into the kitchen and literally made a HUGE tray of roasted vegetables and potatoes and then kept piling them onto my plate, rubbing my back and encouraging me to eat eat eat. Darn you, language barrier! I felt embarrassed that she had thought I was being rude and didn't like her cooking, when it was just that I was a vegetarian. Sigh.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01971232144056105034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-16947597997625011882011-06-30T16:27:19.058-07:002011-06-30T16:27:19.058-07:00I know exactly how you feel. I studied abroad in S...I know exactly how you feel. I studied abroad in Spain and the language barrier was the hardest thing EVER. So frustrating and I was so impatient to be able to communicate and understand what was being said around me.<br />And then one day, I realized that my brain had made the switch. I was no longer thinking in English - and once you stop thinking in English, you can speak the native language and follow along with what's being said around you. It'll come for you.<br /><br />But I know it's hard in the mean time.bekahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15362619565392680707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-1292226831743074222011-06-29T16:47:34.646-07:002011-06-29T16:47:34.646-07:00I'm sure it must be very hard. I have a dear ...I'm sure it must be very hard. I have a dear friend in Italy. He only speaks Italian and I only speak English. He tries to help me, but it is very difficult, so I kind of understand...<br /><br />Still what an amazing experience. Like someone else said, you'll soon have a breakthrough and you'll suddenly realize that you understand what's being said. <br /><br />Still soooooo jealous!! haha!Loribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15889987202237803266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-21783710150036330562011-06-29T08:05:52.159-07:002011-06-29T08:05:52.159-07:00Even when I studied abroad in England, I found mys...Even when I studied abroad in England, I found myself missing out on the lingo, inside jokes, etc. It certainly can be lonely! When we were in Italy for our honeymoon, a lovely elderly couple tried engaging us in conversation and we would have just loved to hear their stories, but we did the same as you, smile and nod. It'll get better though, you'll hit a breakthrough soon!melindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16952930687812804372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-79435261498574514172011-06-29T07:40:19.212-07:002011-06-29T07:40:19.212-07:00I felt this way a bit when we went to Mexico - whi...I felt this way a bit when we went to Mexico - while we were in a pretty touristy area and most local people did speak English, they definitely preferred to speak in Spanish. My friend that I went with is fluent in Spanish, so she would just carry on in these conversations with everyone and anyone, and I was just standing there smiling and nodding or looking off into the distance. She would sort of half tell me what they were talking about later.. but it does get frustrating. I did find, however, that the more I listened in and was around it, I started to pick up more and more words and phrases. Granted I was only there for a week and I really didn't learn much, I 'd say keep at it. I hope it gets a bit easier for you guys <3steph chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15043520069333189197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-71205721805792481242011-06-29T07:00:19.261-07:002011-06-29T07:00:19.261-07:00Have you found yourself learning more by being imm...Have you found yourself learning more by being immersed? I know you said you did study the language a little, so I'm wondering if it's helping you more than you realize. <br /><br />I seriously need to bump up my time with Rosetta Stone.Jessica Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17283561653744769352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-92110091639209723812011-06-28T18:12:26.368-07:002011-06-28T18:12:26.368-07:00My husband and I just returned to California from ...My husband and I just returned to California from 2 years serving in the Peace Corps in Mongolia; talk about culture shock!! Well, at least going to Mongolia. Coming home was easy for us; America stayed the same, but we changed a bit :)<br /><br />As for actually living abroad, we also lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for a year during college (study abroad) and I assume Italy is somewhere between these?! Anyways, I feel like I can offer you empathy more than tips, ha. One little tidbit: don't let a lack of language hold you back from ANYTHING!! Do whatever you want and keep an open-mind and use that infamous Italian sign-language :)<br /><br />Shoot me an email if you need a sympathetic ear! thedailybefuddled [at] gmail [dot] comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-12372301196140926832011-06-28T15:45:02.995-07:002011-06-28T15:45:02.995-07:00I've been to Haiti a few times but we were in ...I've been to Haiti a few times but we were in a group of about 7 people who spoke English so we always had someone to pass the time with. My advice is to play with kids. They are forgiving and enjoy playing the "what's that?" game. And can teach you games that don't require much language skills! <br /><br />Are there any ex-pat groups nearby you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-85997719972770043612011-06-28T15:26:11.661-07:002011-06-28T15:26:11.661-07:00I've never been in a country where I didn'...I've never been in a country where I didn't speak the language, but I can only imagine how frustrating it would be - especially being there for as long as you guys are!Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919362264913621435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367978962411214469.post-37921632003737220102011-06-28T15:25:29.378-07:002011-06-28T15:25:29.378-07:00This is something that I can't fully imagine, ...This is something that I can't fully imagine, since I've only been the the US and Canada. I really admire you for immersing yourselves in an entirely different culture and language, I think that takes a lot of character! I think I told you that we'd love to move to Paris for a year sometime, but I'm definitely taking a year plus of French first. Even then, I'm sure they'll still be a huge language barrier that will be surprising and difficult, no matter how much I tell myself to expect it.Annihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543780085185559824noreply@blogger.com