But I Don't Speak Spanish
Well yes, but imagine if you try...
The Kinda Kind Series is about talking. And not talking. About gestures. And expressions. And sounds. And silence. It’s about all the curious ways we communicate. And sometimes it’s about just being Kinda Kind.
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There’s a tiny ‘mom and pop’ Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. It’s called Colima’s Mexican Restaurant. One wall is covered with laminated photos of Mexican dishes with neatly printed descriptions and prices. Colorful Mexican pottery sits on a rack underneath. I wouldn’t call it a display because it’s pretty haphazard. I don’t know. Look at the photo below and you be the judge…
You order at the counter, either to eat there or take out. We always get take out, then walk back along the beach.
Bill and I don’t speak Spanish. Well, not much, anyway. But when we have a hankering for great Mexican food we take the half mile beach walk to downtown and Colima’s Mexican Restaurant.
It was Christmas Eve and we got that hankering.🌮
Bill always steps right up to the order counter and says in his outside voice (that’s the loud one), “¿Qué pasó brother?”
Pretty good for an old German guy. A mix of Spanish and how he’d talk to his long time college buddies.
Every time, I mean every time, the guy working the counter breaks into a big smile and he replies in Spanish. There’s that little moment of connection. A few seconds where I see a twinkle in his eyes and I know he appreciates that Bill made the effort.
He replies in Spanish… a little too fast for me to understand all of it, but I can pick up enough words to know he’s offering to take our order.
It doesn’t matter that we order our food in English.
“I’ll have a carnitas burrito. And could you make it extra crispy por favor? And my wife will have a side order of rice and beans. That’s to go… Gracias my friend.”
When our order is ready Bill picks up the two white plastic bags, puts a few dollars in the tip jar and says, “¡Muchas gracias! Feliz Navidad!”
“De nada… Don’t drink too much tequila!”
“Ha Ha. Tú tampoco brother.” (A new phrase that Bill has added to his repertoire. I am impressed.)
And with that we head out of Colima’s and into the Christmas Eve sunshine, our Spanish not greatly improved, but our human connection slightly better.
May your week be filled with tacos and small talk… in Spanish or whatever language you encounter. Be on the lookout!
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COMMENTS:
What language(s) do you speak?
Where could you try speaking another language near you this week?
Hola!
If you get a chance to try this out, come on back and tell us about your human connections!
I think it was a TikTok video that encouraged me to always use a person's name when possible, like at the checkout or anywhere else you see a name tag. I'll just say, "Thanks, Jim!" or whatever. Same idea: creating just a little bit of connection. Can't say for certain whether it's appreciated but it's a habit now so I keep doing it. :)
Your husband sounds like my kind of guy. I often make an attempt at some small communication in the language of the venue and although my wife sometimes cringes, I always get a smile.