Breaking the language barrier
Well, yesterday was the day for us to dine with Roberto and his family; but it did not start out well; when we, in an attempt to reconfirm that we were expected at 3:00 PM, encountered the same telephone issues. Not wishing to disappoint again, we headed out.
Getting there was quite straight forward; but imagine our concerns when we found no one home. At Joyce’s suggestion, I knocked at the door of the apartment of the next door neighbor who had no idea where Roberto was and commented that if their van was not there, then neither were they.
We waited around for a few minutes and were about to leave when a white van drove up; horn honking and Roberto waving. He and his wife (Anna) had to make an emergency visit to the hospital with their daughter, Lesley (2). Also inside the van was Robert (3) who was fast asleep.
Sensing what they may have been through, we strongly insisted that we reschedule; but Roberto, more insistently, told us to stay and enjoy some homemade Mexican cuisine. We were really made welcome.
While Anna started the meal preparations, all of us, in our stilted language, engaged in some lively conversation with Roberto pointing out the Spanish for the various dishes and the vegetables to be served. It did help that Roberto and I did sip on cerveza (Corona) which did add to our merriment. In the meantime, the children were keeping Joyce occupied.
Eventually, we did sit down to a most enjoyable spicy homemade Mexican dinner which was principally chicken and topped by a delicious dessert. It was as if we were old family friends.
Where the time went remains a mystery; but it came time to bid “Buenas Noches”. Based on a sentence I had prepared in advance and with sincerity, I thanked Anna for a wonderful meal by saying “Gracias por una comida muy agradable”.
Another pleasant mystery is that we were most sincerely invited back; not in a manner of “sometime” but, rather, specifically for next Sunday which, we had to decline. Roberto then wanted us to dine with them the following Sunday.
It gives us a very warm feeling to be part of their lives.
