After spending six weeks in France this summer, I am use to hearing a foreign language around me. Unlike in France, however, people here speak Spanish. But my brain doesn't make this distinction. So when someone speaks to me in Spanish, my initial reaction is to respond to his question--in French! At the airport in San Salvador the lady processing my ticket asked me if Guatemala was my final destination. She asked me in Spanish of course, and I understood the gist of the question, so I responded in French. She looked at me with a confused look and then asked the question again, this time in English. We both knew enough English to understand the other person.
I have talked to many people in French without realizing they can't understand me. This cracks Jim up. He, thankfully, knows enough Spanish to make himself understood and translate for me.
Today is our first Spanish lesson; I'm on break right now. Spanish is similar enough to French to make it recognizable, but not similar enough to make it easy. In fact I have spent the last two hours confusing French and Spanish, and I expect the next week (at least) will be more of the same. At least now people will understand me--hopefully!
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