I’m on a journey, living in several countries for a month or more, to immerse myself in the local culture and experience what it’s like to be a local or nearly so.
Someone once said, “There are some people who speak multiple languages, some who speak two languages, and then there are the Americans.” When I was in school, I took Spanish for a couple of years, many years ago. For the last two years, I’ve spent a portion of the year in Costa Rica; I never really converse in Spanish, yet I can get a bit of the gist of what's being said, especially if the speaker is older as they speak slower and lower. Reading is a challenge, yet I get a little bit of it. I’m an American.
My journey took me to Ireland, and conversing was of no concern, even though some of the local colloquialisms were sometimes challenging. This carried on in my brief visit to London. And then there’s France.
I can't recall what led me to live in France for two months, but here I am. I used Duolingo for several months before arriving and can read the language a bit, but conversing is another matter. I might add that I’m hard of hearing, especially with the high ranges. Honestly, I wouldn’t say I’ve been a good pupil. Knowing you’ll not succeed is not a great starting position, and while I’m here for two months in two different regions, it’s not like a real commitment.
The people of France have been very accommodating to me; seldom has there been an English-speaking person with a restricted vocabulary, yet they’ve made the effort more than I have.
Recently, while in a grocery store reading a package's ingredients, someone tapped my shoulder as they passed, saying something in French. A bit startled, I responded, “Desole, Anglais” (sorry, English). She paused and said in halting English, “Today is a beautiful day to be alive!” I agreed. Communication happens, but not the way I dreamed it might.
I’ve pondered this a bit, thinking if I were in France in my earlier life, the rate I would be learning would be at a greater pace, I suspect. Today’s technology allows people to get through the day without communicating. Early on, I tried to watch the Olympics but was dismayed at my inability to understand what was being said, so I opted to use the VPN to watch English broadcasting. While I ride the bus and on the occasions I’m walking familiar territory, I’ll listen to podcasts that I’ve downloaded, keeping me up to date and not isolated.
Early on at this location, I needed to see a doctor, so in preparation, I wrote out the issues and pertinent information they always ask, and then, using Google Translate, I copied the French translation. I handed my tablet to him, which made short work of the appointment communication and helped to eliminate any miscommunication.
So, for me, technology is a crutch that makes living in a foreign country very doable. That said, if I were here for a third month, I would seek out a meetup group to better integrate into society.