While G was here we taught him a
lot of English and he taught us some of his language. I'm usually pretty good
at hearing the words and repeating them to remember for later, but for some
reason saying good night in his language gave me a hard time for the first
couple of weeks. Every night after hugs and tucking G in we'd say goodnight in
English and then we'd follow it up with saying goodnight in his language. For
the first two weeks G would look at Jerry and they'd both laugh because I'd
just screwed up the words in his language. I could have sworn I was saying it correctly,
but finally one night I did get it right and we all high fived and hugged
again. After that night I'd intermittently get it right, but G and Jerry would
always look at each other, smile, and shake their heads like I'd said it wrong
again. They were always nice but loved bonding over my inability to get it
right. It was always like there was this inside joke, which I didn't mind. It
was harmless, and G was always good about it.
As you may have read, we should be
staying in G's country for about a month the first trip. So, I have been trying
to learn more of his language so we can communicate with the locals. I started
using a language app that says the words, then listens to you saying them and
tells you if you have said it correctly. If you did there's a bright ding and a
green light. If you did not there's a buzzing noise and a red light. Well, I
was moving along and was really doing well and kept getting all these green
lights. As soon as goodnight came up I of course smiled, thinking back to G's
time here, but was determined to get that green light and move on to another
word. The app said it in G's language and then gave me the go ahead to repeat.
I repeated it and was so proud, I just knew I said it correctly, until a red
light came up and it buzzed! I did it over and over again, getting the red
light and buzz! Finally I got a yellow light, which meant I got it partly
correct. I started to laugh because it felt like the app was in on the joke!
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to say good night in his language completely
correct, but I won't stop trying.
I am looking forward to the day I
can hug him, tuck him into bed, say good night in English, and keep trying to
say goodnight in his language to him again!
