Friday, October 12, 2012

Blunder #1

Our first few days in our home, we didn't have hot water and we couldn't figure out how to work the heater.  It was FREEZING!  We were all bundled up in sweatshirts and socks and the first chance the sun had to warm our back deck, I was out there lying on it to warm my insides.  The toilet upstairs didn't work and 4 of the windows wouldn't lock. We were warned that when you call to have anyone come do mainentance, you never know when they will show up.  It might be that day or it could be in 3 weeks.  If they say they'll come at 1pm-- they will NEVER be there at 1pm.  It'll be at least 30-45 minutes later, if not a couple of hours.  So, when we couldn't take a hot shower to warm up, I started to wonder how long we'd be popsicles. 
THANKFULLY, a nice guy came out a couple of days later and got things working for us.  His wife and son were sitting outside waiting for him.  When we realized this, we invited them in, and she started talking to me.  I was using all of the Spanish I could to carry on a conversation.  I thought I was doing pretty well, until she asked me a question, and I thought I heard her say something about our backyard.  "Oh si, tenemos una piscina!"  She gave me a funny look and that was when I realized I couldn't understand one lick of Chilean Spanish.  What she had asked me was, "Do you need a Nana?"  Which is a maid.  And I answered with, "yes, we have a pool!" 

1 comment:

Carrie said...

I love it!! I have been there every moment too..it's great you're writing it down so years later you can say...wow we made it and even thrived in another country. Buena suerte!!