Example Essay

You enter a random chat looking to meet new people. But when different persons talk different language or even the same language but he or she is from another region. Is really hard to have a fluent conversation were the both of the members feel comfortable. I have been expose to that nature a few times before. Since I constantly want to meet foreign people. I been in position where I have to learn the language or constantly use a translator. Or even Google some of the words and see what they really meant. And those are only linguistic problem. What happens when you talk about deeper concept such as religion, family, economy and culture?

I recently video chat with an Argentinean. I was really excited about that. It was not the first time I spoke with an Argentinean. I knowing of some words they use but that time was the first formal conversation with one. Beside the gap of words we had once we started talking about economy and culture things became a little uncomfortable. He was talking really secure and freely while I was having a hard time keeping on the complexity of the economy in Argentina. When my turn came of talking about Puerto Rico’s economy I was stuttering. I was not able of speaking as free as him because I was afraid he might not understand and that made me look like a fool.

There was another occasion were I spoke with a German boy, I’m not fluent in that language but I can understand the basics. While he was talking I was limiting myself to type because I was conscious I was not able to give the right sound or accent to the words. While he talk I had my Google translate open searching words I was not familiar with. I still remember when I ask him what was he doing and he answer “ein Lebkuchenhaus” I didn’t wanted to sound stupid so I went with the flow because I understand that the word “haus” means house. I just thought that it was a type of house they had in Germany and that he was building it. So I went and said “Oh how kind of you building a house who is the lucky family” and he was confuse and the awkwardness began. What I didn’t know was that “ein Lebkuchenhaus” meant a gingerbread house. That was one of the things that had happening talking to that person there are still many more.

Speaking English is part of my everyday life. Is a language I am very used too but in this case is not about not understanding the accent or the language is about cultural difference. I was recently talking with an American friends about love and family. There are different gaps about this topics because she was not used to the harsh strict family that can be found in Puerto Rico since American families have another concept of family. Were I compare Puerto Ricans families to a dictatorship she compare it to a democratic government and it was hard to get my point across. I bet she did too.

Talking to a person from another culture and country will always end up in some misconceptions and embarrassing moments. But at the end is no ones fault is just the space between cukture and language represented.