I can’t do math in a foreign language!
There I
was, standing like a tall fool in the shop, just handing over all the money in
my hand to pay for the margarine…..
My first language is Afrikaans, second English, then the official language of the
country. Currently learning the local language, understanding general German
and Dutch……in listing all this not to brag, but to show what a confused person
I am!
I asked for
the price of a small block of Rama – 60M - right, I need 5, so how much is that
again? I tried to multiply in
Portuguese, nothing came to mind. I
tried to count out the right amount, again nothing! Why I didn’t just count and multiply in
Afrikaans or English, I really don’t know!
So I just handed her my bundle of notes and hoped she would be
honest! She looked a bit curious at me
and then asked “You did want only 5?”
“Yes”, i said, trying to sound intelligent but not succeeding. Slowly she handed me back my excess notes….Hmmm,
I had math up to grade 12 – and I did well in it! Physics and Chemistry at University and I
can’t multiply?
I once
stood in a store where they only sold half liter milk cartons and I tried in
vain to figure out if half a liter was cheaper than one liter – here buying in
bulk costs often more, not less – so in the end I had to run outside and ask my
dear patient husband what 22x2 was!! And
then, to my shame, I went in and said “This language is sooo easy!” (I meant to
say difficult, but by that time I had confused everything!) haha I
am sure a psychologist would quickly label me one way or the other!!
Division
also seems to be a problem……this happened today after the “Rama” incident - the man behind the counter told me the milk
(again milk – maybe I have a thing about buying milk?) cost 360M and I just
looked at him – stared actually, as I divided 360 by 6 – then he slowly said in
a strong Indian-accented-English – three …. sixty. I smiled and said in perfect Portuguese (just
to show I was not a total idiot!), “Fine, I’ll take one box of milk at ….3….60”
and handed over the money – this time the correct amount at least!
In my
defense I can say this – with all the thoughts going through my mind as I try
and do math I do understand why I am so clueless – here are some thoughts that
race through my mind – Is the shop trustworthy?
Is the product fresh? How long
since this has expired? Is this price so
good because it has expired? What is
that funny smell? Do I really need
this? When will we be in town again - how much should i buy? How much is this in Rand? How desperate am I for this product, etc,
etc!! In short…..Shopping stress!!
So, I have to admit that my brain just freezes
when I have to count and multiply or divide under stress – I just cannot do
it! I rely heavily on the honesty of
people around me, to help me along the way as I stumble and stutter.
And so, I
guess in more ways than one I am a fool for Christ!
Bella, who
does NOT like shopping in any culture!
Comments
Post a Comment