On Language

This language barrier is frustrating. I cannot even understand the most simple sentence construction. At this point I understand snatches of words here and there but mostly follow what people are saying based on their facial expression and hand gestures. Of course there are some difficulties like that “is it a yes or a no?” ambiguous nod. I am not helped by the fact that I am surrounded by plenty of English-speaking, most of the time, people and so much harder to absorb language because I only hear it when speaking to wait staff, rickshaw drives, and taxi drivers. Ugh, I hope by the end of the year I can manage basic conversation. In the mornings when I wake up I do language exercises and write these little bits. I wish I had plunged myself in the deep end and gone to Delhi. Surely I would be learning at a faster rate. Whew I am relearning patience and persistence here.