I speak spanish - I am a gringo
Just about everytime I end up speaking spanish with a native spanish speaker for the first time, the question is posed, "where are you from." It's a simple question, but my answer is not really the answer they are looking for:
I respond, "from here - I am a pure gringo."
Inevitably, the follow-up question is, "yes, but where were you born?"
I respond, "New Mexico."
"Oh, well, then that explains it."
This is where I have to say, "but I've never actually lived there."
Seriously, it is almost remarkable how all conversations I have in spanish start at that point. From there, we go on to discuss the finer points of learning construction spanish in Dallas, then working with spanish people on a church mission in Massachusetts, and lots of practice. I suppose I could skip the whole new Mexico thing, but I have to admit, it is kind of fun to just check to see if I can get that same conversation every time - it has never failed me yet.
1 comment:
seriously--you know what they're trying to find out and yet you give them a red herring answer. why? are you related to your father or something?
i have a similar experience when people see me with jesse and haley. they say, "so...." and I can see them trying to formulate a tactful question, so I just say, "she's adopted" which is really what they want to know.
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