British Expats - Is Moving to America the answer

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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- USA (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/)

- - Is Moving to America the answer (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/moving-america-answer-587154/)

trace in spain

Jan 30th 2009 5:37 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Peepeearia thats so funny :lol:

tamms_1965

Jan 30th 2009 8:58 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by trace in spain (Post 7230099)

Meauxna, whilst talking to your neighbours sounds fantastic, im afraid i have a bit of a confidence problem. One of our neighbours gave us some veggies and stuff that he'd grown in his garden, i thought this an ideal opportunity to use some of the little spanish that i knew and go and thank him, I promptly told him that i loved his pechuga they were tasty when i meant to say that i loved his lechuga. He seemed really pleased that i had thanked him and i went home happy, only to tell my husband who nearly spat his coffee accross the room, apparently i had told the man that i loved his 'breasts' instead of his 'lettuces' from this point on i kind of avoid the neighbours when i can. I also get myself into situations when im mucking about but my problem is i cant speak enough spanish to get myself out of it again, so instead i put on my boring head and just smile sweetly,:D its so much easier.

I think this story could be the first episode of a new BBC comedy series.

trace in spain

Jan 30th 2009 9:24 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Your absolutely right, with all the people on here and their experiences we could make a fortune.

I think i could give you a whole series on my experiences over here, i have never thought of myself as dim, but since living over here i do wonder.

meauxna

Jan 30th 2009 9:29 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamms_1965 (Post 7231160)

I think this story could be the first episode of a new BBC comedy series.

No kidding!

I was actually wondering if trace has read any of the 'expat fish out of water' books like A Year in Provance (the Spain one I had was not as good.. titled something like Driving Over Lemons maybe?)

Farkin' pechuga joke may have to live on .. it's a good trade for peepeearia! :lol:

Bob	Jan 30th 2009 9:51 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 7228585)

So - would you rate yourself as being 'interested in' languages? Did you study any languages at school?

Give Italian a go? Supposedly it's relatively easy to learn Spanish if you've learnt Italian.

I say that, but I'm crap at languages and one of my mates picks them up like the British Army picks up the clap. He learned how to speak Italian over a weekend on holiday and by the end of the week was almost native and picked up Spanish a few days later. Helps he could speak Icelandic, Swedish, Danish, German and French like a native.

tonrob

Jan 30th 2009 10:43 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob (Post 7231408)

My olds bought a place in Liguria that they use in the 6 months they can't be in FL on their B-2s. Their Italian is crap, but they get by very well - most locals can't speak English but patience, positive attitude and mucho sign language mean they get by. There are also a fair few Brits about (and Germans), many of whom are bilingual (or trilingual) so they've been able to get help when they've needed to get to grips with imprtnat conversations (e.g. when my mum got diagnosed with breast cancer).

They've been having a tutor come round for Italian lessons, and they've used all the tapes etc. but they're not getting very far because of the 6-month gap in Florida each year. (Well, if they were that determined.... but still).

Redwing

Jan 31st 2009 6:29 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 7228585)

But the language aspect has always been a concern. I learned French at school and 'get by' in France, and I generally enjoy trying to speak a language when on vacation ... but ... maybe I'm deluding myself that at 50 I could really pick up the language sufficiently to enjoy living in a country.

Steerpike, I think you would do OK. Before I went to spend time in Spain in the 70s, I spoke decent French, and I had a Spanish native teach me Spanish. As the roots of both languages are similar, I learned enough to get by in less than 2 months, so that I was able to converse with people, particularly at the football game. If I could do it, I'm darned sure you can.

trace in spain

Jan 31st 2009 7:28 am

Re: Is Moving to America the answer

Can i just say getting by is ok if thats all you want to do, anything other than that is a different kettle of fish. I can get by but and make myself understood (except for the neighbour incident) but when it comes to the serious stuff then im useless. Also i dont enjoy learning it, i havnt got a natural learning for languages. In my humble opinion I think as long as you dont try to analyse and make sense of it or translate it word for word you should be ok, thats why the kids learn so quickly, they just accept that sentences are said that way, just becasue they are, they dont question why its the other way round or why the adjective comes before the verb. I found i had to learn english properly as well, how sad was that i didnt even know what a pro-noun was and had to learn about present subjunctives, blah blah blah, thats when that little switch in my head turns off.

My husband was able to sit down with a fantastic book that he swore by and then classes were a lot clearer for him. He is pretty much fluent now which is why my spanish isnt so good, its much easier for him to do the talking when we're out, although i always order MacDonalds!!!

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