I thought I knew English but clearly I was wrong. Suddenly I cannot understand it or be understood. The good thing is that I know I will be back on track in a couple of months when I get used to the language. Before that I will encounter few baffling moments. Here are some examples.
The first new word that I learned in Philippines was aircon. Air conditioning system that cools the air inside the apartment. An apartment is called condo which is an abbreviation of condominium. The fringe is called bangs. I had to ask my hairdresser to spell it to me. The toilet is called comfort room. The last word I learned quickly due to an urge that comes with the need of it.
Do you need to go to the comfort room?
“No thanks, I feel quite comfortable and relaxed at the moment.” I am waiting for my new Filipino friend, wondering what kind of comfort she is getting in that room. And where is this strange room? After all we are in a shopping centre – or mall, as it is called here. I bravely ask when she comes back. It actually makes sense in old Finnish language (mukavuuslaitos), but I was not smart enough to fetch the connection from that far.
The next day I am in a large shop called SM City Marikina, and I end up needing this mysterious room. Unfortunately I had forgotten what I learned yesterday, so I am asking the shop assistant: “Excuse me, where is the toilet?” She takes me to the department where they sell toilet carpets, toilet brushes, toilet roll holders… “No, I need to wash my hands!”, and she takes me to the section where they sell hand soaps. “Ehmm… Ladies room?” She points at the Ladies clothes.
The Donkey in Shrek said “When there is will, there is a way!” My will is building up inside me, reaching a moment of despair when I remember it: “Where is the comfort room, please, the Comfort Room!? The CR!”
Aiming to be understood, not embarrassed
It’s not only once or twice but many times when the waitress is answering to me even if the question has been asked by my husband. Equally often, when the poor person has no idea what my husband is saying (he is from Scotland, it might explain something), he looks at me with a sign of despair on his face, hoping I would save him and translate that gibberish into English. So far, I haven’t heard local person saying “Sorry, I did not understand.”
Sometimes, frankly quite often, there is a full English sentence that I cannot understand at first. Mostly it’s the speedy way Filipino people speak. Their English accent is different to Chinese, Indian or European. It’s not always quite American either. Then there is the particular vocabulary that has been developing during the colourful history of the country. Tagalog, the native dialect, brings its own influence. To complete the linguistic challenge, here comes this odd foreigner who is trying to understand and, equally hard, trying to be understood.
So we are all quite deep in it, down to our knees. We just have to manage. My way is simple: “Can you please repeat that very slowly and clearly since your accent is quite difficult for me to understand.” – Say it just as it is.
About the toilet paper
By the way – the toilet paper, if there is any, is often outside on the wall, not inside the toilet box. It’s too easy to steal it from there, I guess. It’s wise to keep some tissues with you and, remember it’s a Comfort Room!
Manila's Many Faces 