Friday, August 24, 2012

last supper


Embarrassing moments happen, and I should have seen this one coming; there were warning signs.  Learning Chinese, as everyone told me before I left, is hard, and today I confirmed that conclusion during my final language test, a 30 minute conversation with an unbiased tester.  All week we’ve been preparing for this test by fielding rapid fire questions and doing role-playing with our language instructors, so my anxiety grew each day. 

drying a few hot peppers on the balcony
Another warning sign of my impending fall was a false sense that I was starting to understand more of what’s said around me.  At dinner last night when the conversation turned to what dishes I liked, I knew what to say right away because we had just practiced that conversation in language class.  I said a few that I know only because they are easy to say, not because I like them.  What my hosts were really asking is what I wanted for my last dinner with them tonight.

Everyone knows, including my hosts here, that me + hot spicy food = tears, sweat, and respiration problems.  Sichuan food is notoriously hot and spicy for a reason: lethal hot red peppers and Sichuan numbing peppers.  It’s a one-two punch, that’s in every dish, along with MSG.  One of the first things I learned to say in Chinese was, “not hot” when ordering food, which only means it’s not going to be as hot.

When I sat down with the tester, and she started asking me questions, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, or more accurately not hearing.  At one point, I actually thought, “What language is she speaking?”  And I knew I had to do something, but what?  We’ve all seen this happen, a nervous person just starts talking and talking, and that’s exactly what I did.  The more I talked, the more confused the tester looked, obviously wondering, “What language is she speaking?”  There were many low points, but the worse was when I asked her what job she had.  She works for the Peace Corps and I’ll see her tomorrow.

So, that didn't go well.  Fortunately, the PC gives us a language allowance to pay for tutoring.

Tomorrow, all trainees move to a hotel for a weekend of more training.  On Monday, with much pomp and circumstance, we have our swearing in ceremony, and then reality sets-in as we head off to our new teaching jobs.  And for me, a look at my apartment after full week worry and many, many conversations.  It's a story that needs pictures and a video.

What I wanted most of all this afternoon was my friends, Queen of Nails, and a G&T.

1 comment:

  1. Friends are here... sweating with you! You will be great simply because you are so warm and funny and sincere. All of which are understood, universally, without language. We are also having G&Ts for you. :) Lydia

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