Is it presumptuous that someone might want to read my random thoughts. Possibly.
But, it those random thoughts are there, why not expell them hense (a word which is, according to my handy-dandy dictionary "archaic". Well, fie to your archaisms.)
All is well on this side of the globe. I've had very few strange experiences, which makes this a banner week. I met with Ivan, a former student and friend, who told me that is Slovak I sound like a stupid Slovak person. This comment, simultaneously praise and criticism, enlightened has really [hence forth] cast light on my Slovak communication experience. For example, I was buying a book and the cashier and I had already exchanged some Slovak pleasantries. So far so good. When I had to ask her for a stamp. [Stamps are very important here; they make things official. There is a certain power to the stamp that shan't be underestimated. Indeed, I need a stamp on the receipts I use for my deductions...] So, I said "Prosím vas, pečiatku či pečiarku. Čo je spravne?" Which roughly translates to: Please, a stamp or a mushroom, what is correct?
So, she looked at me as though she was about to call the people with the white jackets. All the while, I was simply asking a pronunciation question.
The moral of the story? I suppose it's about being open-minded to foreigners. But, more about finding a sense of comfort in being able to ask someone a simple question. I.E. I know there are these two words that sound very much alike and I know that I am going to make a mistake... Please, help me.
I continue to be ill at ease with those whom I do not know and with whom I speak. My friends laugh at the mistakes, the strangers scoff or get disgruntled. I feel that I should be congratualted for knowing that a difference exists between pečiatka and pečiarka.
But, it those random thoughts are there, why not expell them hense (a word which is, according to my handy-dandy dictionary "archaic". Well, fie to your archaisms.)
All is well on this side of the globe. I've had very few strange experiences, which makes this a banner week. I met with Ivan, a former student and friend, who told me that is Slovak I sound like a stupid Slovak person. This comment, simultaneously praise and criticism, enlightened has really [hence forth] cast light on my Slovak communication experience. For example, I was buying a book and the cashier and I had already exchanged some Slovak pleasantries. So far so good. When I had to ask her for a stamp. [Stamps are very important here; they make things official. There is a certain power to the stamp that shan't be underestimated. Indeed, I need a stamp on the receipts I use for my deductions...] So, I said "Prosím vas, pečiatku či pečiarku. Čo je spravne?" Which roughly translates to: Please, a stamp or a mushroom, what is correct?
So, she looked at me as though she was about to call the people with the white jackets. All the while, I was simply asking a pronunciation question.
The moral of the story? I suppose it's about being open-minded to foreigners. But, more about finding a sense of comfort in being able to ask someone a simple question. I.E. I know there are these two words that sound very much alike and I know that I am going to make a mistake... Please, help me.
I continue to be ill at ease with those whom I do not know and with whom I speak. My friends laugh at the mistakes, the strangers scoff or get disgruntled. I feel that I should be congratualted for knowing that a difference exists between pečiatka and pečiarka.
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