New year and grapes
Dec 8th 2009 | 8:56 pm
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,174
From: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
Re: New year and grapes
Ask them to eat sunflower seeds.
If they hold it between their fingers to bite and then separate the shell with the fingernail, then the are still a newcomer.
If they can open the sunflower seed in their mouth and then spit the shell more than 1.5 meters, I would probably say that they are one of us.
The language is not a true test of integration………….it is a ploy to make folks feel bad and spend money learning thelanguage.
Disclaimer(of course not all Spainsh people can eat sunflower seeds in this way, as some are old, toothless, allergic etc)
If they hold it between their fingers to bite and then separate the shell with the fingernail, then the are still a newcomer.
If they can open the sunflower seed in their mouth and then spit the shell more than 1.5 meters, I would probably say that they are one of us.
The language is not a true test of integration………….it is a ploy to make folks feel bad and spend money learning thelanguage.Disclaimer(of course not all Spainsh people can eat sunflower seeds in this way, as some are old, toothless, allergic etc)
Particularly my size
........... ps it'd be fallen in that hole
I think the notion of picking & choosing is exactly as life should be, whether in one's country of birth or adopted home or whatever.... however I absolutely think there should be some requirement, moral or actual, to learn something of the language above a few choice phrases. Whatever country, if you plan to live there you should be able to communicate a bit. I'll never be comfortable conversationally because I can't speak as fast as I think (in English either
) but I think it's downright ignorant not to be prepared to pass the time of day, or explain yourself the best you can.
Dec 8th 2009 | 8:58 pm
#49
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 699
Re: New year and grapes
It does in my seat.
Its very funny watching you grasp at very obvious straws.
Too quote Bil from this site.
"Now now, I would have thought that a supposedly educated person like yourself would have thought before he typed. The whole irony and leg pull thing is not really getting thru, is it?
C'mon, lighten up a little. Season of good will and all that".
Its very funny watching you grasp at very obvious straws.
Too quote Bil from this site.
"Now now, I would have thought that a supposedly educated person like yourself would have thought before he typed. The whole irony and leg pull thing is not really getting thru, is it?
C'mon, lighten up a little. Season of good will and all that".
Last edited by chulo; Dec 8th 2009 at 9:02 pm. Reason: Trying to put right my comprension before they notice
Dec 8th 2009 | 9:02 pm
#50
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: New year and grapes
See what I mean folks we were have a little chat and fun then some "gracioso" has to come along a screw it up.
Anyway ladies it has been nice chatting to you all, but now as I can see what is going on, I think Ill take the opportunity to go and get the paper and have a coffee. Top of the morning to you.
Jose Luis
Anyway ladies it has been nice chatting to you all, but now as I can see what is going on, I think Ill take the opportunity to go and get the paper and have a coffee. Top of the morning to you.
Jose Luis
Dec 8th 2009 | 9:02 pm
#51
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19,115
From: Province of Vicenza
Re: New year and grapes
It does in my seat.
Its very funny watching you grasp at very obvious straws.
Too quote Bil from this site.
"Now now, I would have thought that a supposedly educated person like yourself would have thought before he typed. The whole irony and leg pull thing is not really getting thru, is it?
C'mon, lighten up a little. Season of good will and all that".
Its very funny watching you grasp at very obvious straws.
Too quote Bil from this site.
"Now now, I would have thought that a supposedly educated person like yourself would have thought before he typed. The whole irony and leg pull thing is not really getting thru, is it?
C'mon, lighten up a little. Season of good will and all that".
Dec 8th 2009 | 9:03 pm
#52
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 699
Re: New year and grapes
I can get more than 12.
Last count I could even fit my foot in.
Last count I could even fit my foot in.
Dec 8th 2009 | 9:18 pm
#55
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,634
Re: New year and grapes
I don't know if it's necessary or even possible to integrate really
we have spanish friends, eat spanish food, keep a 'spanish' timetable, watch spanish tele
my kids probably are more spanish than english in their mannerisms & attitudes
even I have some spanish mannerisms now
but we are after all english & always will be english by birth
we also have english friends & friends from other countries too, we also eat english food, and watch DVDs in english (or spanish depending on whether we are alone or if we have spanish speaking company)
my income is mostly from the expat community
I think we choose what we like from both cultures
I do think you miss a lot by not at least trying to learn the language though
we have spanish friends, eat spanish food, keep a 'spanish' timetable, watch spanish tele
my kids probably are more spanish than english in their mannerisms & attitudes
even I have some spanish mannerisms now
but we are after all english & always will be english by birth
we also have english friends & friends from other countries too, we also eat english food, and watch DVDs in english (or spanish depending on whether we are alone or if we have spanish speaking company)
my income is mostly from the expat community
I think we choose what we like from both cultures
I do think you miss a lot by not at least trying to learn the language though
I feel we do the same.
We have Kiwi friends. Eat Kiwi foods. Keep a Kiwi timetable.Watch Kiwi TV.
I am told that I seem to have gained some Kiwi mannerisms and something of the accent. Yis! Sweet as....
My husband works with Kiwis and only Kiwis and has done since we arrived here. Our first friends were kiwis and not expats.
This language here in NZ may be a spoken English but it is different to a UK English. One can be mis-understood & humour is certainly an issue at times.
We mix and match without any bother. If there was to be 'bovver' because of our nationality , I would simply bin the people. Can't be doing with picky . Life is way too short to have to justify breathing in a different way to your neighbour.
Maybe that is because I grew up with multi-national people. My lovely old Dad was a chef and work in hotels. All my parents friends were from anywhere and everywhere in the world.
I'd agree about having some language though. It is one of the reasons we didn't end up in France or Spain. My husband is dyslexic and he felt he would not be able to pick up enough for a good conversation, his work as a plumber or a good joke telling episode.
People coming to NZ have to pass an IELTS test if English is not their first language. Should you have to do similar.
Dec 8th 2009 | 9:25 pm
#56
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 699
Re: New year and grapes
Why intergrate, live your life as you would normally, don`t change others to suit you and don`t change yourself to suit others.
Intergration is a myth, my partner would never class himself as British, he`s Spanish and follows Spanish lifestyle in the UK as much as he can without imposing on others.
He eats Spanish food, shops in deli`s and complains about Brits and there quirks, I complain about Spaniards and there backward thinking.
It a bit of fun we have.
If others have an issue with that, ignore them, that`s there ignorance.
Anybody watch the F Word yesterday, it was the Spanish night and funny that the 2 British Chefs who run a Spanish Tapa`s restaurant beat the Spanish Chef.
My friend is still insulting the people.
Intergration is a myth, my partner would never class himself as British, he`s Spanish and follows Spanish lifestyle in the UK as much as he can without imposing on others.
He eats Spanish food, shops in deli`s and complains about Brits and there quirks, I complain about Spaniards and there backward thinking.
It a bit of fun we have.
If others have an issue with that, ignore them, that`s there ignorance.
Anybody watch the F Word yesterday, it was the Spanish night and funny that the 2 British Chefs who run a Spanish Tapa`s restaurant beat the Spanish Chef.
My friend is still insulting the people.
Dec 8th 2009 | 10:22 pm
#58
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,824
From: Living in a good place
Re: New year and grapes
Can one be really truly integrated and spend all their time on an ex-pat forum
BTW This is tongue in cheek before the drama queen(s) start spluttering over their english keyboards
BTW This is tongue in cheek before the drama queen(s) start spluttering over their english keyboards
Dec 8th 2009 | 10:28 pm
#59
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,634
Re: New year and grapes
BTW This is tongue in cheek before the drama queen(s) start spluttering over their english keyboards
Dec 8th 2009 | 10:49 pm
#60
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,330
From: my paradise - Jávea
Re: New year and grapes
Your are half Spanish then, welcome to my country, you will soon progress is sounds as though you are doing far better than some who like to think that they are intergrated, because their children speak Spanish.
(I wont mention any names)
And they have been here for yonks. Well done. Keep trying you will get there in the end.
(I wont mention any names)
And they have been here for yonks. Well done. Keep trying you will get there in the end.
that's the last time I stick up for you
