Originally Posted by Karmen

Hey that's great, you confused a German!!!LOL

Only joshing with you, you will get better with the language if you want to learn i feel once you have let down those 'god i'm gonna make a real fool of myself' barriers and just try, I was exactly the same when i got here. Wouldn't leave the cave house until i had looked up word for word what i wanted to say, practiced it several times, and put on my best Spanish accent. As soon as they replied 'Que' i crumbled ran from the shop and avoided contact with anyone for a week. Then stage 2: again write it down, practice intensely, enter the shop full of confidence, to a reply of 'Que', (well i expected the first one) repeated again slower (without the dodgy Fawlty Towers 'Manuel' accent) then the reply came 'como' each time getting quieter and quieter till once again i left the shop empty handed. (the upside was i lost nearly 2 stone last year) However I got friendly with a girl behind the bar at my local & I would sit in the corner & practice talking to her; eventually if she couldnt understand me, someone in the bar 'worked in Ibiza for a bit, once'. Eventually i was talking to most of the locals my confidence grew and i am proud to say i can hold a basic conversation, take my car to the garage, EAT AGAIN, and generally get on well with most of the people i meet, so although it took me 12months I am so glad i stuck at it, i try and learn a new word everyday.

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy

Karmen, if you want to do a search on crime in the Costas I feel you will find many bad things also

The UK is a beautiful country, often spoiled by the few for the majority. Having just been back there for a month it makes me appreciate the wonderful countryside and village life.

Originally Posted by andyrich666

Well I agree on the language front, although I do struggle I am managing to make myself understood in basic Spanish ...... just cant understand what people say back to me yet

Is hard to get that bit sorted, I learned phrases instead of individual words, if you can pick 2 or 3 words out of a a 5 / 6 word sentance, then you start to get the Gist of it

Originally Posted by Karmen

I hear what your saying about the coast: I know someone who cant sleep without her machete under her pillow, but ask yourself the crime on the costas is it the Spaniards doing all the crime!!!!

Originally Posted by Karmen

I hear what your saying about the coast: I know someone who cant sleep without her machete under her pillow, but ask yourself the crime on the costas is it the Spaniards doing all the crime!!!!

Originally Posted by andyrich666

I meant when people talk to you, not reading sorry, I do find the spanish beat around the bush somewhat to say something simple, bu that could be said of any language, rather than learn one indivdual words, try learning a whole sentance, say I say

seeyoulater backatseven instead of just trying to listen to that seperatley listen in one go, and if you pick out later and seven you will get it. thats how I worked out how to understand.

People say they speak so fast but I think in english you speak fast, you dont pause after every word, but you learn a sentance instead, hope it makes some sense

Originally Posted by andyrich666

not long ago i know if a girl who got robbed by some morrocan;s and the Police saifd to her you should have a Knife or a Gun under your pillow for protection, she said what if I killed them, they said so what, there is too many of them here anyway, its self defence, shame the UK is not run like that

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy

No its the eastern europeans and africans ......... but in the UK its the same.

And dont forget Uncle Gordon says that crime in the UK is going down

Originally Posted by XTreme

Anybody got that goddam subjunctive cartoon handy?

Originally Posted by Karmen

Also do you find if you do or can speak the Queens English or speak correctly instead of this basterdised language we use today it is easier to learn another language.

I didnt know the Spanish word for TRY - when i asked for help i was told it was INTENDADOR (havn't got Spanish spelling down to a fine art yet so do bare with me) however i remember that as i intended to do it which helps me but if i have confused you sorry!

Originally Posted by Karmen

So Smart Ar*e WHAT DOES IT MEAN - i ain't joking

Originally Posted by XTreme

I even crack myself off sometimes you know!

Originally Posted by andyrich666

the word Try was hard for me, I use to say probar as in taste, was interesting one night in Sevilla for me anyway ha ha, nuff said

Yes I find English is a overly complicated language with too many words meaning the same, I speak it different now, miss lots of words out and have the awful habbit of adding "NO" to the end of every sentance like Raffa Benietez which winds people up constantly

Originally Posted by XTreme

Sorry Karmen....I have to be in the mood for the subjunctive!

Anybody else hear that "WHOOOOOSH?"

I even crack myself up sometimes you know!

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy

Yes I heard that