Practicing with the Fruit Vendor
I went to the bank and decided I would try to speak Maltese. I practiced the conversation in my head while waiting in line. But then when I got up to the window, the teller said “Hello, how can I help you?”… and then I got all tongue-tied. I could not make the switch.
The postman left a note saying there was a package for me and he would come back the next day. I promised to myself I would speak Maltese to him. Then, when I answered the buzzer, he rattled off in Maltese that he was from Malta Post and had a package for me but the last name did not match the name on the box. So I answered back… in English. However, he was puzzled when I came down to get the package, because I had understood him, and asked if I was Maltese.
Finally, last night I went down to the fruit vendor. Malta still has the charming old tradition of fruit vendors, who bring fresh fruit from their farms. It adds a touch of old world charm to an otherwise modern society. This time, I told myself, no excuses. And so I confidently asked, “għandek bananas?” Well, those two magic words was all it took. M told me that once I get confident and am able to start conversations in Maltese, people will not think of switching to English, because they will assume I am not a foreigner. And so the woman brought out some green bananas and asked how many I wanted. Not able to express my dissatisfaction with them, I made a face that meant “ugggh, they are green!” and said “tnejn,” informing her I wanted only two. So she went off in a long explanation as to how they are almost ripe, and if I wrap them in plastic they will be good in a few days. I then piled on some tomatoes, apples, a cucumber, and went on my way. My first fully Maltese conversation. Granted, I said exactly three words, but it is a start.
Baby steps, every day.
