I was so consumed with my research question and topics in yesterday's blog posting, that I totally forgot to mention what I did for Lunch on Friday. I decided to drive to Little Havana and explore on the main street (Calle Ocho). A lovely Cuban woman, Gladys, who works at the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami, suggested that I check out Exquisito Restaurant, which has authentic Cuban food as well as live music.
http://exquisitorestaurant.com/
Of course, the live music is only at night, but I decided to have lunch anyway (I can always go back to hear the music at a later date). I asked the waitress: "¿Qué nos recomienda?" and she replied: "Lechón Asado". That was the extent of our conversation in spanish with the exception of a few "Gracias'". I realized that I am not familiar with restaurant terminology in spanish that well, so it is difficult for me to communicate in these settings. Also, I have found that the Cuban waitresses I have had automatically switch to speaking english at the first sign of trouble on my part in speaking spanish. This is obviously a natural response for them because they are used to dealing with many tourists and americans who do not speak spanish. I believe that reviewing the vocabulary and terminology for food and restaurants in spanish will aid me in my ability to hold a conversation in spanish in these situations. Tonight (Saturday) I have been able to review some vocab and grammar so that I may be able to "hold my own" in the future. I will probably attempt to speak spanish in a Cuban restaurant again on Monday (I need a little break after eating so much rice, beans, and plantains over the past few days!!!). In the meantime, I will attempt to speak spanish to anyone who looks as if they would prefer that over english and see where I end up and how well I do. I can't get discouraged after being in Miami for three days and not having much success with my spanish. As the old saying goes: "Try and Try again...Practice makes Perfect." I think I might have put two sayings together there, but I think you get what I'm trying to say...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
hahaha You've been in Miami waaay less than I have and have already gone to some places I have not been to like today's restaurant. I will definately visit soon. Interesting though.. I've passed by there so many times without noticing it. But yeah... for cubans... if there's no rice... it's not food. lol
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is trying to learn Spanish and she ties to talk to me in Spanish but it's hard for me to understand her, so I switch to English better. Maybe that's why the waitresses switched back too. I am going try a little harder with my friend now though... because It is true that practice makes perfect. That's one of the saying I live by.