Oh Internet, I feel so lost! Gone are the days when I could speak English, fast and furious. I am relegated to facial expressions, hand signals, and blank stares when my German friends ask me for a drink, offer me food, or attempt to speak to me. Worst of all, I’m totally lost in translation! I can’t be articulate or funny or engaging when I’m making hand signals trying to express how happy I am to be in zie Mutterland. Yes, I’m lost in translation.
For instance, while walking up a long flight of stairs with the German pastor and his wife Nancy, I quipped, Feel the burn for thighs of steel! But it fell flat when Nancy replied, Feel zie burn? Vhat is burning? Any American I know would get my pop culture reference to the 1990s workout video Buns and Thighs of Steel without any hiccup. But alas, I’m lost in translation.
Yesterday at breakfast I tried asking for a spoon. Now here is where I regret not finishing my Rosetta Stone German lessons because I was relegated to speeeaaakkkiiinnngg Enggglissssh veeerrryyy slooooowly and using my hands to demonstrate what I needed. When I looked down at my impromptu sign language, I was surprised the man behind the counter didn’t give me chop sticks. Don’t ask me why my hand insisted in forming my imaginary fork by displaying the number three with my fingers and shoveling imaginary food into my mouth. My eating utensil could’ve doubled as a mismatched pair of chopsticks or pitch fork. Lost in translation.
Lastly, after traveling for fourteen hours straight, eating airline food, and not sleeping in over 26 hours, it’s fair to say I wasn’t exactly speaking a cohesive language. Matt felt the brunt of it. After two long days of traveling with a cranky wife, Matt told me I had a bad attitude. Yes, a baditude.
[Here’s where I give you a tidbit of wisdom and expertise in conflict resolution. You’re welcome.]
I cringe at the thought of ruining our trip because of a baditude so I ditch my scowl at the door, check my crankiness and the counter, and leap to give Matt a hug. He cannot receive my hug, but I don’t care! I’m lost in translation so I must use my body language to express my regret. [The secret in conflict resolution is being so annoyingly affectionate that both parties end up forgetting what the issue was in the first place. Again, you’re welcome.]
Lost in Berlin,
B
Praying for you B, may you rest and the universal language of Love be what they experience~ Love Patricia
You're personality shines louder than your words could ever speak – praying for you.
Thanks for the laugh though! Love the image of your spoon sign language!
B: I can't believe you flew to GERMANY after Dallas! You are super woman! In reference to Buns of Steel, I did those lunges and squats not in the privacy of my own living room, but gym class. Oh memories. Wishing you a relaxing week in sunny California 🙂 Much love – Christina
While I don't speak German, I did learn one phrase from my mother, (this is sure to be misspelled) "ich haben kein gelt" which means I have no money. I'm not sure why this would be handy, but I thought I'd offer what I have! 🙂 Also, the section about asking for a spoon made me laugh out loud, literally! After spending a year in France, I totally know what you mean about not being able to use American references with the locals, they will just look at you like you're weird. Safe travels!
Hahahahahhahahaha! I love it! Thanks, Catie 🙂
Have fun! Remember that faithful are the correctional criticism wounds of the husband…my translation. Safe travels.
Your translation is so funny! Love it.
Hey B.
Everything will be good, the most germans speak english and are very handsome. 🙂
I hope we met on saturday and then: bringe ich Dir ein paar deutsche Wörter bei und alles wird einfacher.
Ich wünsche Dir eine schöne Zeit in Deutschland.
Bis bald,
Markus 🙂
Ja. Ich liebe Duetchland 😉
Saturday for sure!
by the way, I mean: tame not handsome…or both 😉 I am also lost in translation, sometimes… 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear B. Praying for you. Let me just tell you that having been to Germany twice, I completely understand. I would have thought Matt or anyone would have given you insight. It’s definitely hard for an American who uses a lot of slang to relate in Europe. Like when you teach, you can’t say “Jacked up, tore up, keep it real, when I broke up with Satan, etc.” ha ha They just won’t get it. It’s even HARDER that you are Latina AND American because that makes for what they absolutely CANNOT relate to… loud, laughing and touchy/huggy AMERICAN! I got reprimanded from an elderly German woman when I got on a bus or train and was laughing too loud. She scolded ne verbally and with shaking her finger! You just can’t take your loud American laugh and voice with you to Germany! Check it with your bags at the airport! ha ha
They are a country of quiet, hardworking, extremely moral, and orderly people. I love them for all of that!
So please make sure if you go into a grocery store you are quiet, you go in an orderly fashioned up one way and down the next not scattering around the place should you forget something! ha ha And when you are ready to pay, you must put your multi-tasking into play because you must pay the cashier immediately, not fumbling with taking out your wallet, etc. while bagging your own groceries with your toes(after you purchased the bags or brought your own)! ha ha But I love Germans and Germany with all my heart! There is a method for their madness!
When in Rome, do as the Romans do and you’ll be fine! 😉
Love you, I can surely relate! Praying for you and that Matt will be loving! I have a message for Matt from Pastor Jack Hibbs…
“I believe that God has ordained the husband with an anointing because God will honor marriage, that a husband has the God given influence and authority to shape a wife’s character and life. There is no doubt about it, that God has placed the husband, the Bible says, over the wife, “over the wife,” don’t take that offensively, “over the wife” means that God has given him a bazaar anointing that how he speaks to her, he can build her up! He can speak to her and make her day! Five thousand men can say, “Hey, Baby!” And she says, “Get out of my life scum ball!” But he can say, “Hey baby,” and she will say, “what do you want?” (sweetly). God has given the husband that power! And the same token, he can turn and lash out against her and cut her like no man can cut her. God has ordained marriage and He’s anointed the husband to build up the wife. Every man in this room knows that when things come out of our mouth we either exalt our wife or we tear down our wife. This is vitally important. Think about the spiritual anointing, the power of the reality that I’m talking about. The husband has that power. When used rightly, that wife will excel and exceed and go beyond, you know what she’ll become? You can read all about her in Proverbs 31. Stuff comes out of her life, she’s amazing! Why? Because she has a man who covers her! She’s got a man who is covering her. He prays for her. He’s washing her with the Word. She’s got a man over her life. A husband who cares.”
PREACH IT!!! I love you, J 🙂 You're the best.
PS The summer series will begin on Tuesday, June 28th 🙂 Carlos Whitaker will be doing worship that night. You don't want to miss out!!!
Tschuss!
<3 you more! lol Thanks! I've been looking in your bulletin to see if they started taking sign ups but nada! I will have to go next Weds to sign up! Can't wait! Miss you so much! Haven't seen you in forever!
Tschuss!
Thanks Amber <3
Culture shock is hard. It is helpful to be aware of it though. If you remember that miscommunications are supposed to be the norm you will not be as shocked by them when they occur. Although this experience may be a bit difficult, I believe that it is going to give you a new perspective on who Jesus is and it will draw you closer to your husband (both are super awesome things). Sometimes it's good when you can't be smooth because then you have to really trust Jesus and then you can just be real 🙂 (I learned this when I went to Europe and looked like a moron. Over and over again. )
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