Knowing just a little Cantonese can get you into trouble. It opens up more opportunities that in some ways may deceive people into thinking you know more. I have been trying to branch out a little more in using Cantonese. After class yesterday, I went to the market in Mong Kok. This is one of the locations you can bargain for the item you want and is also a popular tourist area. I wanted to buy a gift for a friend. So, I asked how much the item was and told them it was for a friend and told them how old she was in Cantonese. Well, this brought on sentence upon sentence of explanation why she thought this certain style or color was better for my friend. After only 1 month of language study, that was just a little more than I understood, so I just smiled and nodded for a while. Then she added ‘Nei sik mh sik tang? Do you understand? hehe. I had to say, no. So she then went on a little more, I got the general idea what she was talking about... I think. But, because I tried talking with her in Cantonese, she gave me a discounted price. So I guess it pays to give it a try, even if you end up being humbled.
I had another language experience today.You know it’s a good thing to know Cantonese when you hear someone yelling. It could be to tell you that they’re cutting down a huge branch and it could fall on you! I’ve grown accustomed to hearing loud talking and not understanding a word… I just continue on my way in my own little world. Well, that’s not such a good thing. Several workers were on the hillside, with an unstable ladder, sawing down a big branch… right in front of my door! In the rain! I would have walked right in the way, if it weren’t for huge hand gestures telling me to get back. So, I waited in the rain as mosquitoes feasted on my skin. The branch fell (almost taking out my kitchen window) right in front of my door. I guess that was a wake up call to either be motivated to learn more! Or just be a little more aware of my surroundings.
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