Communication Challenges

This is a small list* I compiled about the different ways I have made a fool of myself here

1. I put raw bacon on my sandwich for lunch thinking that it was ham because they look the same here

2. When I first met someone in the staff room at the school, they told me a story that involved their "partner." I just thought they were talking about their same sex partner. Then, a few days later, someone else was talking about their "partner" and then I heard the term a few more times. Right around the time I thought the school was full of lesbians, I asked someone and they told me that "partner" was the term used to describe boyfriend or girlfriend.

3. I had an entire conversation with someone who was telling me about how they were buying a new car on the weekend. When I asked what kind it was, I was confused because they didn't know. They said their sister found it for them and it was grey. Then, after a five minute conversation, I realized that they were in fact talking about a cat, but their accent made it sound like "cah" so I was confused.

4. On the second day of school one of the kids was telling me about a blister on their skin. They told me about "Mossy's" which are big insects here that bite them and they get big red welts on their skin. For the remainder of my stay, I kept hearing about "mossy bites" and I kept a look out for these big insects that would get me. Then, a fellow American told me that "mossy's"are just mosquitos. I felt so stupid.

5. I also got very confused when Vic, my first host dad, was "sneaking" wine into a restaurant. I was surprised because I didn't peg him as someone who would do that. How in the world were we going to bust open this bottle and drink it without getting caught by the people that work here? Then it was explained to me that almost every restaurant is "BYO." You can just bring your own alcohol into restaurants and drink it.

6. Ben, the music teacher, was telling me about how "naked" he was after a long day. It turns out that "knackered" is a term here for tired. It still strikes me as odd when people say it

7. When a student asks you for a "rubber" don't look at them shocked and horrified- just give them the eraser in your hand, because that is what they are asking for.

8. The first night I was here, my host mom, Raelee, asked her son if he was coming back home for tea. I just assumed that they all sat around and drank tea together at night. Then I found out that "tea" is another word for dinner here. . .

*This is just a short list because I make a fool of myself almost daily