This afternoon, I was meant to be going to the free A1/A2-level Portuguese classes I attend twice a week. Those who want Portuguese citizenship need to pass the A2-level exam before they can apply.
I don’t want to take this citizenship route because it’s not only expensive, stressful and time-consuming, but it can also take years to achieve. If I were ten years younger, then maybe. But at seventy-one, I need to prioritise the time I have left.
My Portuguese exercise books caught my eye. I sighed. Looking at the books and homework still waiting to be completed, I made a decision. Quit formal lessons.
Why? Because, after spending thousands of euros on private lessons, A1/A2 courses and hundreds of hours studying and stressing, I’ve come to the conclusion that I might as well bang my head against a brick wall. No matter how hard I study, the lingo just ain’t sinking in.
Time to be honest with my stubborn self. The goat in me. The Capricorn.
If the language hasn’t gelled in over twenty years, it probably never will. Besides, the conversations and vocabulary in the textbooks bear little relevance to my everyday life and interests. And do I really need to contort my brain into a pretzel over whether a noun is masculine or feminine and pronouns, adjectives, et al?
It hurts to accept this reality because I’m not a quitter. Maybe the situation would be different if I were immersed in the Portuguese community, but sadly, where we live, we’re not.
Earlier in the week, I couldn’t even make an appointment over the phone.
So, what finally prompted this decision, aka the last straw on Piglet’s back?
Yesterday, we went to the supermarket. Whenever I want help or need to order something, I always try to ask in Portuguese, provided I know the vocabulary.
At the butcher’s counter, I pointed to the pork fillets.
‘Dois lombinhos,’ I said.
‘Two pork fillets,’ he repeated in English.
‘Sim! Dois lombinhos, obrigado,’ I replied, thinking, Isn’t that what I just asked for?
‘E um peito de peru,’ I added.
Once again, he repeated my request in English, with a hint of sarcasm.
‘And one turkey breast.’
It wasn’t so much what he said as the way he spoke to me, in such a condescending manner.
At that point, I dearly wished I could have replied in German, just to confound him. After all, he’d assumed I was English!
I know I shouldn’t be so sensitive, but you eventually reach the point where you start wondering, Why bother?
We also have a guy in our local supermarket who seems to go out of his way to make life difficult for us.
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom! I have many wonderful Portuguese customers who frequent the charity shop. They’re kind and patient, helping me with vocabulary, pronunciation and all the other little hurdles that come with learning a language. And of course, I will continue with Portuguese Podcasts that interest me. No pressure. No stress.
And for that, I’m truly grateful.
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Yes I found obrigado/obrigada confusing because it has to match the gender of the speaker, not the receiver.
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