When I first started traveling to Mexico, I remember feeling like I was stripped naked. We so often cover ourselves with key phrases, common quotes, jokes, and cultural/political references. When I found myself with a limited vocabulary, I realized that I no longer had the luxury of these adornments. I was left bare.

These are also the things that allow us to make connections with strangers. They allow us to laugh together, to make small talk, to make ourselves and the other person feel more comfortable. They give us norms to lean upon in unknown situations.

I no longer feel as though I don’t have the words to express myself. I can now take part in albures, jokes, quotes and cultural/political references. I feel comfortable. I’ve realized, though, that it’s the other person who often feels uncomfortable.

When people see me, they often assume that I can’t speak Spanish and much less understand it. It’s always amusing to me when some people insist on speaking to my husband even when I’m the one responding.

“Where is she from?” They ask him.
“I’m from the United States,” I respond.
“What part?” They again ask my husband.
“New Mexico,” I say.
“What’s her name?”
And so on…

Some people are so prepared not to understand me that their immediate reaction to the first words out of my mouth is “Cómo?” They soon realize, though, that I do in fact speak Spanish and we can communicate.

Once that bond, the language bond, is established, we can begin to communicate on a different level. I now love throwing in local words and sayings just to see how others react. They always smile and say, “You’ve been here awhile, haven’t you?”

I’m finally straddling the language barrier here in Mexico. The interesting part is that it seems to be creating another language barrier in my life in the United States.

Source: Christine Schneider