I have a trip to my girly parts doctor today. Just a little check up. When I stop to think about it, it always amazes me that I do these things in Portuguese. I mean, it´s just crazy to think that I arrived here speaking nothing and then ended up delivering both my boys using a language other than my native to communicate.
So I thought I´d do a list of the things I am proud that I can now manage in Portuguese:
1. Doctors: We´re talking pediatricians, gyno, ER doctors. I´m at ease with my Portuguese medical vocab. Ok, not so much but I´m damn good at charades now.
2. Dentist: This was surprisingly hard. Just as dentists all over the world, my dentist asked me questions while my mouth was full of stuff. I had a hard time slurring in Portuguese but she seemed to understand. That or she´s a good faker, maybe I should ask her husband...
3. The Butcher: I used to be afraid of the butcher. I don´t know the different cuts very well and the butchers I´ve met are always in a rush. I manage now. If they get impatient, I just take a little longer.
4. Gas station: Have no idea why this made me nervous. It´s full service for goodness sake. Needless to say, one time and I mastered this challenge.
5. The Gym: Half the time I don´t know what the hell the trainer person is saying. First off, I´m in the middle of a workout. Second, they just start spouting out random words. Not a big deal though, they are usually there to tell you your position is wrong. If you don´t understand they´ll just fix it. Basically, I´ve always had pretty touchy feely relationships with gym trainers. Poor Rachel.
6. School Admins: At first I got so overwhelmed by the info that I didn´t understand anything. Now I manage with the Sass God gave me and even ask for discounts. What can I say, the discount is the Brazilian way.
How about you ex-Pats out there? What have you mastered in a foreign language that´s made you proud?
As you have pointed out in the past - asking for small squishy/crusty fresh bread at the bakery has its dangers.
ReplyDeleteBut let me tell you - put yourself in a gay night club. You don't want to be commenting on someone's small squishy bread...
I mastered that territory right out of the gate.
Jim, you're crackin' me up!
ReplyDeleteI think I've made big progress with asking for and understanding directions. Esquerda, esquina, direita, otro lado da rua, avenida, perto da...
I'm getting lost less and less when I head out to find something. I suppose that's good and bad, I got to see quite a bit of the town while I was lost.
I registered at Unicamp by myself and did all the paperwork through tears. My Portuguese was terrible then. I feel pretty up to par in all the areas you spoke of. My concern is expressing opinion and having the idea come out wrong. Subjuntivos have become the next challenge. I don't know it's still hard for me to wrap my head around, it is a conditional form that my Portuguese teacher said is an important signal for an educated Portuguese speaker. I hear short imformal or formal subjuntivos and imperativo all the time. The most common I hear is "Pare"! Which I think is informal and "para" is formal. But longer phrases like "Vocês duvidamos que eu resolve o problema?" I hear less and dont understand how to use very well. But maybe I am wrong and dont hear it because I dont fully understand it.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention opening a bank account, although I did not master that one! It was horrible. I cried. I had to go back numerous times until one day I refused to leave. I made sure I went there about 30 minutes before closing and I told him I wasn´t going to leave until he made it work. You know what, they did! I will never do that again!
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