One of the great things about knowing Spanish is that it has become a kind of private language. Tía and I often SMS or (less often) email each other in Spanish, but it's more for a feeling of solidarity than for privacy. It's like a special thing that only we share. Being the scatter-brains that I am, I've even been known to send the Spanish SMS intended for Tía to someone else, usually by brother-in-law Cal (their real names start with the same letter so they're next to each other in my phonebook). He just writes back and says "Mate this must be meant for Tía ..." and we all have a laugh about it.
One time, however, I committed a fairly serious faux pas ... I was staying with Tía and being left home alone while everyone went to work at night. Tía left me some chicken pieces and some rice to cook -- enough for one person -- while she was gone. I asked her if Lala and Cal were likely to come over for dinner and she assured me that they wouldn't and anyway she only had enough food for me. I accepted this and she drove off to work leaving me alone with the dog, Enzi (pictured), to relax and watch Home and Away. Not five minutes into our soapie I got a phone call from Lala, asking what's for dinner:
Me: Hey Lala, what's up?
Lala: Just wondering what's for dinner. We should be there in about half an hour.
Me: Ummm ... rice and chicken but there isn't a lot ... but I'll make it work.
Lala: We can bring something if you want, I don't want you to go to any trouble.
Me: Nah don't be silly, come on over I'll stretch it ... somehow.
Lala: Cool well I'll see you soon.
Me: Yep ... cool ... see you soon.
I got out my mobile phone and started writing an SMS to Tía to tell her that her "No, they won't come over" was full of shit. I was so flustered that I didn't have the patience to write in Spanish (you either have to use the ABC method or break the words into smaller parts if you use T9), so I just wrote in English:
SMS - from Me to Tía: Crap. Lala & Cal are coming for dinner! Go figure. Not much food but I'll work something out. Shit shit shit.
SMS - from Cal to Me: Um mate I think that message was meant for Tía. You sure its ok that we come for dinner? If you need me to I can pick something up on the way over.
SMS - from Me to Cal: Dude don't worry about it, I've got enough. Was just that Tía told me you weren't coming. It's cool, really.
SMS - from Cal to Me: Ok mate see ya soon.
SMS - from Me to Tía: Crap. Lala & Cal are coming for dinner! Go figure. Not much food but I'll work something out. Shit shit shit.
SMS - from Me to Tía (in Spanish): I just sent that last message to Cal!!! He wrote back asking if it was really ok to come to dinner. Crap. My memory is shit...
SMS - from Tía to Me (in Spanish): LOL. Don't worry about it. See you when I get home.
Ever since I've double checked the recipient in all my SMS and emails. I was so embarrased when they came in the door. Live and learn I guess.
2 comments ... click here to comment:
how long have you been learning espanol?
two years :-)
It all started cos I watched Shrek 2 in Spanish and decided to learn. But I am part spanish, so it's not totally random.
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