Well, yesterday was an intriguing day. For one thing, my trip to the doctor's office for the 38 week visit took 4 1/2 hours though it is only a 15 minute taxi ride away. (I took the bus in rush hour and then had a 2 hour appointment - but that's another story).
As a language learner, I felt like I was on a teeter-totter of accomplishment.
Incident 1:
The English speaking nurse at the hospital has decided it is easier for both of our understanding if she speaks in Tksh to me. Victory!
Incident 2:
Then I went to an art supply store where my conversation went like this:
Me (in Tksh): "Do you know gessos (a product for making a canvas paintable)?"
Salesman (in Tksh): "Do you know Tksh?" (is he mocking me?)
Salesman (in Eng): "I can speak English or you can keep trying to speak" (definitely mocking)
Incident 3:
I sat down alone at a bus stop to wait for my bus and a young woman stumbled onto the seat next to me. While I tried to formulate the question "Are you feeling okay?", she passed out. As I tried to keep her from falling onto the pavement, I looked around at the street that had no shops nearby-wondering what to do. A young man appeared out of nowhere to help. He assumed we were together and started asking me all sorts of questions in Tksh. (Victory again!) After I shared that I didn't actually know her and wasn't sure why she had fainted, he quickly took over the situation (in a very compassionate manner talking with the woman and working to figure out how best to help her get home safely). After several minutes he offered to pay her way home in a taxi rather than a crowded bus. He helped her into the backseat and then sat himself in the front to give the driver directions. I was blessed to witness such kindness to a stranger.
As a language learner, I felt like I was on a teeter-totter of accomplishment.
Incident 1:
The English speaking nurse at the hospital has decided it is easier for both of our understanding if she speaks in Tksh to me. Victory!
Incident 2:
Then I went to an art supply store where my conversation went like this:
Me (in Tksh): "Do you know gessos (a product for making a canvas paintable)?"
Salesman (in Tksh): "Do you know Tksh?" (is he mocking me?)
Salesman (in Eng): "I can speak English or you can keep trying to speak" (definitely mocking)
Incident 3:
I sat down alone at a bus stop to wait for my bus and a young woman stumbled onto the seat next to me. While I tried to formulate the question "Are you feeling okay?", she passed out. As I tried to keep her from falling onto the pavement, I looked around at the street that had no shops nearby-wondering what to do. A young man appeared out of nowhere to help. He assumed we were together and started asking me all sorts of questions in Tksh. (Victory again!) After I shared that I didn't actually know her and wasn't sure why she had fainted, he quickly took over the situation (in a very compassionate manner talking with the woman and working to figure out how best to help her get home safely). After several minutes he offered to pay her way home in a taxi rather than a crowded bus. He helped her into the backseat and then sat himself in the front to give the driver directions. I was blessed to witness such kindness to a stranger.
