My Mandarin is still poor, but I am surviving quite
well. I have stopped travelling around with my address written on a piece of
paper. I just take the taxis and point all the way to my destination.
Today, I even got a huge melon at a discounted price. Once the lady showed me the cost, I elevated my hand to indicate that it was too high. Immediately, she reduced the original figure by three Yuan, and I paid what would amount to JMD$178.
Moreover, my translation app has been very helpful. Recently, I went to the hairdresser, and I was able to have a meaningful conversation with her for about 10 minutes. However, the minute she shaved away a considerable part of my hairline, my battery died and so did the exchange. Of course, she marvelled at my "beautiful" makeover, while I stared in the mirror, aghast at my more rotund forehead. I tried to indicate how she could have applied a "fix," but I eventually gave up my wild and infuriated gesticulations before she shaved away the last strands of hair and rendered me bald. Perhaps that was my punishment for haggling over the cost to do my hair :)
Certainly, I am learning the language gradually. However, my vocal apparatuses often refuse to produce these VERY RARE sounds. I just hope they will adjust very soon.
In the interim, I will use the limited Mandarin that I know and my expressive body language to communicate. One thing though, I will no longer use gestures to get a hairdo.
Another funny post re the salon visit. How about a photo Shawna!!!
ReplyDeleteI will think about posting one :)
ReplyDelete