Having been in Morocco for little over a week now my Arabic is understandably limited. I am always impressed, however, by the aptitude others show for languages. On my second day here my host told me all about a Korean girl who volunteered for a month and how she was speaking Arabic fluently by the last week. “And there was another volunteer from the U.S. who stayed for three months, and by the second month he and I could have conversations in Arabic!” My host was so enthusiastic about these past volunteers and he looked at me expectantly.
“Wow! Good for them!” I said. What I really should have said is something like “If you’re holding me to that standard then boy howdy are you going to be disappointed.”
A new volunteer from Canada arrived the other day and of course because he’s Canadian he speaks French and English. That’s impressive enough for me, the man who was taught Spanish from kindergarten to high school but still sometimes forgets how to ask for the bathroom.
Why stop at two languages though? So while our host family is speaking Arabic to one another this Canadian rummages in his bag and pulls out a notebook filled with Arabic lessons he had written for himself. Oh how the host family gushed.
Did I say I was impressed by people who pick up on languages quickly? I miss-typed. Those people are invited to keep company with short shorts, skinny jeans, tight t-shirts, probably speedos, and all the other things that make me look bad.
From the Occasional Chair 
I like the last paragraph especially. Good job, Elliott
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You never know until you try (the speedo that is)
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You know I took Spanish for 6 years probably. The only one of us 5 who didn’t take French in the hopes that Grammy could help – ha. I know – los mana on la cabeza – put your hands on your head ( I hope) No respire – hold your breath. Embarazada? Pregnant? El doctor mirror la plaqas – the doctor will look at your X-rays. And bibliotheca – library. Think I’m doing pretty good. And I’ll bet you know a lot more. Plus you’d look way better in skinny jeans.
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If you had just let me play those Spanish songs during our long car rides when you were little, things might be different. Of course you did perfect a great British accent from all the Harry Potter tapes. I think it’s an American failing though. Most of us drop the ball on learning other languages.
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