Speaking 5+ Languages with my Polyglot Grandma
I would have loved to be there at their place for this interview. It had me thinking. Survival will make you do what you need to do, real quick. When I lived (Very briefly. Only two years) in Italy it was an experience that I hold dear. I didn’t realize until after I had left, how much it would mean to me. Anyway, I had never been outside the United States (At the time) and never learned the language. I had taken french throughout junior high and a couple of years in high school. I know a bit of Spanish, so they both helped. But I was a bit scared.
I decided to live in a small town of Bussolengo (Not far from Verona). There were not but a few black people and we did not live around each other. My neighbor in the building was a French older woman who had lived in Italy for over 20 years. Her two adult children lived with her. She was amazing ( I wished I had kept in contact with her). Anyway, I had purchased a purse efficient traveler's guide of words and sentences, pep talked myself with “ You got this, you’re a New Yorker” and off I went. I learned the bus and train systems of Italy and some of Germany. Through traveling back and forth from home to Verona, I had to talk to people (Goes without saying).
The supermarket, the stores, libraries, train/bus stations, church, etc. It forced me to pick up on the language. I understood more than spoke but my travel book was always with me. My proudest moment was trying to find a particular post office in Verona and I wanted to verify the location. I asked an older man (With my book) he explained normally (Meaning he did not talk slow for the American. Lol) how I could get there. I...understood perfectly...WAIT I UNDERSTOOD!?! HOLY...SHIT!!! I was giddy as hell. I thanked him and when I made it there, I laughed so loud (I believe it was spring of the second year).
My point is I never would have thought it was possible when you are in the environment..your mind will do what it needs to do.
Sorry about the length of this.
