Talking to Strangers

One of my biggest fears that I’m learning to overcome when speaking Romanian has to do with talking to strangers. It’s (usually) easy to speak in Romanian to people I already know – I know they will be patient with me since they know I am learning Romanian, but I don’t always know how a stranger will react. Fortunately, most times they are understanding and appreciative that a foreigner is attempting to learn to speak their language.

One of the most difficult things to do is to speak on the telephone. There’s no body language to rely on – just the words and the tone of voice. (Sometimes, I even find it difficult to speak on the phone with someone who speaks English if the connection is bad...so imagine how hard it can be speaking in a second language!)

Back at the beginning of February, the ceiling light in my living room quit working. There was a problem between the switch and the light itself (and yes...I checked the light bulb!). Ever since March, I had the phone number of an electrician, but I never worked up enough courage to call him. Finally I did. He understood me, then we arranged a time for him to come and fix the light.

A day later, I went shopping in another city and my merchandise was missing an essential component. After returning to Sighișoara, I had to call the store and explain to them about the defective merchandise. Again, they understood and told me to return to the store to exchange it.

When I travel to Bucharest, I have about 5 hours on the train. After exchanging pleasantries with the other passengers in my compartment, there is often a conversation like this:

Other passenger looks curious, noticing that I’m speaking Romanian, but not perfectly: “You’re not Romanian, are you?”
Me: “No.”
Other passenger: “Are you Hungarian?”
Me: “No.”
Other passenger: “German?”
Me: “No.”
Other passenger: “French?”
Me: “No.”
Other passenger: “British?”
Me: “No.”
Other passenger: “Where are you from?”
Me: “The United States.”
Other passenger: “The United States?! You speak Romanian very well for an American! What are you doing here? (We Romanians want to go to the US and you come here!)”
[This gives me an opportunity to share about the work of the Church of the Nazarene and Veritas in Romania.]

Although I still have a long way to go before I'm fluent, I'm encouraged by the fact that it is becoming much easier to talk to strangers in Romanian.