Monday, August 15, 2011

Bilingual Bargaining

cropped

Where I live, my flea market exploring

often involves a negotiating

discussion

in Spanish.


I love that.

In fact, one of my favorite flea markets is so close to the border,

all cell phone service is international.


Let me just say, this requires having all of my

wits about me,

as I mentally go back to my high school Spanish classes

at Saint Mary’s Hall

in San Antonio.


My Spanish teacher in high school was blind

and excellent and demanding.

His wife , who never left his side throughout the period,

watched our every teenage move.

She could see, and she was excellent.



All of this is an absolute blast for me.

IMG_6371


And so one day at the flea market,

when I saw this bust teetering on the asphalt,

in a pile of items,

near a very stern looking shopper,

I did a quick translation in my head.

 

Me: 

“Con permiso. Si no lo quieres,

yo lo compro.”

Loosely translated:

Excuse me.

If you do not want this,

I will buy it.



And then the wait begins…

tick tock, tick tock.

 

My mental gymnastics (in English) while waiting:

oh my gosh-I have got to have that-calm down Laura,

walk away slightly, smile, don’t stalk-

don’t hover-

oh my gosh I have to have that-.


And so when I heard this voice say,

“Senora?”,

while handing me the bust,

 

I smiled and said

”gracias.”


Which is the same

in any

language.

***

I am linking to:

image

image

miscellaney mondayimage

imageIn Other Words Tuesday

 

 

 



9 comments:

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

"Thank you" are two of the most under utilized words in our language! I wish more people used them more often.

Thank you for a lovely post!

Mary

Designs on 47th Street said...

I love it...both the post and the bust! And just where will you place this great find? I was just in your neck of the woods. Stop by my blog to see if the area looks familiar. :)
Donna

katecreativesalvage said...

Laura:

Love it, how fun, where in Texas are you?

martha

Gail Dixon said...

Haha, that's awesome. Love it. I was hoping you'd end up with it!

Debby said...

How beautiful. It would be fun to be bilingual.

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Awesome! I have that same bust in a different finish...I'll never part with her! (*_*)

Pondside said...

She's lovely - and I loved the little story that went with her!

Theresa said...

Sweet! Beautiful find! When I was in first grade, we were the first to take Spanish! I still remember some of those lessons! Have a blessed day, HUGS!

Anonymous said...

Oh Laura, you described your mental gymnastics so well....I can just see you trying not to pace. Your writing is superb. I am so lucky to be your friend.
JB

 

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