Although it was good to be in Madrid, one of my frustrations about being there was my inability to speak Spanish. I was in Barcelona a few years ago and did give it a go but people just kept looking at me, as… well, as though I was speaking a foreign language, which was what I was meant to be doing, but it obviously wasn’t Spanish. I assume that something got lost in translation. I am actually quite tempted to learn Spanish, so might look into that at some point. Of course had I followed these pointers I would probably have got people’s attention, but probably not in the way that I might have hoped.
I always feel there is something slightly patronising about assuming people can speak English. Often that is true but if I am in another country, why should I expect them to speak to me in my language? Fortunately most people were very gracious and we found some way to communicate reasonably effectively.
My talk was simultaneously translated and I assume it was reasonably accurate, although to be honest I have no idea. I also met up with someone who, although British, is fluent in Spanish and was kind enough to do lots of translation for me.
I had to get a few taxis while I was away and at least my lack of Spanish meant that I didn’t have to engage in the usual taxi driver banter. I did think the taxi drivers were a bit cheeky though as they started their meters even before I got into the cab. Yesterday morning I had ordered a taxi for 9am, I went to wait for the taxi before 9am and he was already there and had started the meter as soon as he arrived even though he was early. Of course, I couldn’t complain, what with not being able to speak the lingo.
Driving in Madrid was also kind of hazardous. Cars would edge past each other coming within centimetres of coming into contact. I’m a London driver so am used to impolite and aggressive driving but we are amateurs by comparison. There are also hardly any signposts so if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re going to struggle there. Mind you none of the taxi drivers seemed to know where they were going either and relied on their satellite navigation to find anywhere. Now you wouldn’t get that with a London cabbie, now would you? But, somehow I’d still rather be in sunny Madrid right now.
Oh and today is the Ides of March and apparently you’re meant to beware of that, so er, well, be careful out there.
2 comments:
My husband is from England and I am from Mexico, so when I read your piece, I understood exactly how you felt. My husband feels the same.
A lot of people annoy me when they say: "There is no need to learn another language, cause everyone can speak Enlgish".
Well... of course there is no need, we know that! It's not a matter of having the need, it's a matter of wanting to learn something and wanting to be less ignorant.
So go ahead with your Spanish! As a foreigner I can tell you that is always better to see someone trying to speak Spanish than seeing someone expecting to be spoken to in English....
By the way, I liked your blog a lot. I think is brillant!
Cecilia
The problem is that I only ever think of it when I am actually abroad, so need to get my act together and get learning.
Thanks for your encouragement to do it - and your kind words.
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