bye sweet Beno. . .
Lost a great friend this week. Beno, my host brother was home for 4 weeks here in Rehoboth with his family. During our time together we enjoyed so many laughs and good times. I feel like I lost 'home' here. When I talked to him I didn't have to talk slow and wonder if he understood. We watched movies together, listened to music, talked, drove, went to the store, made jokes, just had fun. I miss him so dearly this week. Rehoboth is not the same without him. Bum deal.
Had my first really crappy language barrier experience last night. I sat at the table with my host mom and dad and 2 of their friends as we ate dinner. The one man is one of my teachers who I'm teaching and I really like him. He likes me too. The 4 of them sat talking in Afrikaans, laughing and carrying on. I didn't even know where to look. Do you look at the speaker as if you are understanding and following? Cause I don't. Do you look down and disengage? I don't ever really know where to look. Then they start speaking in english again and you join back in, look up, smile. . .? I dont know but it was at that time as all of the words were flying, laughs were loud and gestures were flying, that my eyes started to fill up with tears, and I just wanted to go home. Atleast, I just wanted Beno back. Beno always made sure I was involved in the conversations and had an idea about what was going on. I could look at him and feel okay. I was acknowledged. I was included. And they tried too saying things like "we'll tell you everything tomorrow" or "she's not speaking in English becuase the joke doesn't work then." Funny, okay, I get it, but do we have to talk about it now. And the hardest part is the one lady. Whenever we are together, she seems to have little regard for me and the language barrier. It has become very offensive and hurtful. Still, at the same time I understand that I am a guest in their home and thy have friends and a life to carry on with too. How can I expect them to cater to me and my language disability forever? I don't think I can.
Had my first really crappy language barrier experience last night. I sat at the table with my host mom and dad and 2 of their friends as we ate dinner. The one man is one of my teachers who I'm teaching and I really like him. He likes me too. The 4 of them sat talking in Afrikaans, laughing and carrying on. I didn't even know where to look. Do you look at the speaker as if you are understanding and following? Cause I don't. Do you look down and disengage? I don't ever really know where to look. Then they start speaking in english again and you join back in, look up, smile. . .? I dont know but it was at that time as all of the words were flying, laughs were loud and gestures were flying, that my eyes started to fill up with tears, and I just wanted to go home. Atleast, I just wanted Beno back. Beno always made sure I was involved in the conversations and had an idea about what was going on. I could look at him and feel okay. I was acknowledged. I was included. And they tried too saying things like "we'll tell you everything tomorrow" or "she's not speaking in English becuase the joke doesn't work then." Funny, okay, I get it, but do we have to talk about it now. And the hardest part is the one lady. Whenever we are together, she seems to have little regard for me and the language barrier. It has become very offensive and hurtful. Still, at the same time I understand that I am a guest in their home and thy have friends and a life to carry on with too. How can I expect them to cater to me and my language disability forever? I don't think I can.
posted by Mandy at 12:17 AM
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