We have most definitely gotten a sense of what it is like for the Argentinian folks to listen to us speak. We patch together a sentence with what few verbs and nouns that we know. Thankfully, the Argentinians are kind folk and take the time to smile and correct us. "Broccoli me take, yes?" is a small sample of our butchered Spanish.
In El Calafate, we had several dinners with folks who have had to, out of necessity, learn English as a second language. Thanks to this experience, we greatly appreciate what a challenge learning any language is.
One of our favourite meals was with a young man originally from Hong Kong (now living in Toronto). His mother brought him to Canada and left him in a home stay when he was 15 years old. She returned to Hong Kong and he was left to try to pick up a language, build a life with strangers, and generally make do on his own.
His name is Michael, and throughout our dinner, with wild animations (and very loudly) he tells us many stories of survival — such as struggling in school and having to "rent" a mom when the school needed his guardian to come in and have a parent teacher meeting. He had us laughing throughout the evening, but the trials and tribulations of him making it on his own from the tender age of 15 is no laughing matter.
At the age of 20 now, Michael simultaneously is independent and completely spoiledt. He has travelled alone to the majority of the worlds countries, yet his mother pays for almost everything...and ALL of his travel adventures. Except for this one. Michael is here in Patagonia, in all of Argentina actually, for a total of 6 days. He is in a fight with his mum so this was all he could actually afford. Hmmm...
He tells us of his 3 month travel to 22 countries in Europe last year. It was wonderful he says, but also lonely. "I got to top of mountain in coast of Iceland and I was alone. I could not make glad in my heart", he says, "You understand?".
Yes. In some little way, we do.
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