To learn more Spanish words, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

While I first lived in Latin America, I found out that there were tailors (people who custom make clothes) that work out of their homes. Many of them would be found in lower-income areas (small pueblos), and worked full time in their career as a tailor and would support their whole family by selling clothes that they made. Their work/office area generally consisted of the front room of their small adobe homes with a dirt floor and a sewing machine located in the middle of the room. Since there were so many frequent power outages, they usually had an old-style treadle sewing machine which required moving the foot pedal up and down to make the machine work; no electricity was required.

I had always figured that the sewing machines were antiques that had been passed down from relatives that had deceased. Until I was in some larger cities, I passed by a few stores that actually sold the “old-style” treadle sewing machines as brand-new models. As mentioned previously, the “treadle” style was necessary for the small pueblo areas that had frequent power loss.

I had an interesting incident once with a tailor (“sastre” in Spanish). Once, I went into a tailor’s home/shop with a Spanish speaking friend who inquired about a new suit for me. The tailor gave him the price and it sounded very practical for a complete suit — especially for one that was going to be custom-made. I then asked about a pair of pants (“un par de pantalones”) and was very surprised at the high price. I tried my “I’m an American, don’t give me such a high price” line (discussed in a previous newsletter) but he was set on the price. I could not comprehend how, for a pair of pants, he could charge almost as much as a suit.

We argued back and forth for about 10 minutes or so about how pants should cost a lot less than a suit because the suit includes the pants, uses much less material, and would take a lot less time to make, but he would not budge on his price. He thought I was off my rocker. Finally, after we were both very frustrated with the situation, it dawned on me what was really going on. In English, or at least in the U.S., when we say “a pair of pants”, we are referring to ONE “pants” (I have never been able to figure out why we put an “s” on the end of the word “pants” if there is only one of them). In that region of Latin America, if you want one “pant”, you say “I would like a pant'” (Me gustaría un pantalón). The word “pants” would mean more than one and in turn, a “pair of pants” would mean to them “four pants” instead of “one”. IT IS NO WONDER HE WANTED TO CHARGE SO MUCH MONEY! I was asking him for the price of four “pairs of” pants!! I then asked him how much just a “pant” (“un pantalón”) was and he gave me a great price.

From this lesson, I hope you can see that cultural and language differences may cause some frustration. In a conversation, two people may think they are talking about the same thing but may actually be talking about two entirely different things. My suggestion is to be patient in communicating and try to learn something new from each conversation you have.

To learn more about speaking Spanish, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

To learn more Spanish words, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

For this week’s culture lesson, I am going to talk about a distinct cultural difference found in Latin America. I am letting you know about this difference to help you avoid becoming offended and so you will know how to avoid it.

It is common to see men “take care of business” right in the streets. Fortunately, they generally are not blatant about it; they turn so most of the public cannot see them, but they urinate (pee) right in the streets. I understand this is also done in a few parts of the United Stated., parts of Europe, and a few other parts of the world — those of you from other regions, please let me know if I’m wrong (or right).

This was a bit shocking for me the first time I saw what was happening. Where I am from, people just typically don’t do that. I can truly say that this is one particular cultural trait that I have never had a desire to adopt or try.

When I was living in Latin America, something happened that I will not forget. I was in a city that had a large main street with an island that ran down the middle of the street. The island was beautifully landscaped with shrubs and trees. Towards the center of the city, in the center of the island was a large sign that said “SHOW YOUR CULTURE, DON’T PEE IN THE STREETS!!” . . . Can you imagine a sign like that posted in your hometown?!

When I first saw the sign, I began to laugh out loud. I could imagine a city council meeting together to discuss ways to improve the reputation of their little city. What they came up with was a sign that advertises to the world that people in their city may pee in their streets and that they making an effort to cut back!

I wanted to let you know about this so you would not be as culturally shocked as I was the first time I saw this cultural difference. The next time you are in the streets of Latin America, if you see a man turned away, standing in the same spot, you now know what he is most likely doing and can now turn away if it might offend you.

To learn more about speaking Spanish, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

To learn more Spanish words, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

The Spanish culture has a wonderful system of shopping that I think everyone should have a chance to experience. It is called “regateo” [reh-gaw-tay-oh] or translated in English to “bargaining”. Not only is “regateo” fun to do, but it also earns you a cheaper price, and is actually expected as part of their culture. You can bargain at any small shop or market, but at larger grocery stores or department stores bargaining is not done.

One of my favorite things in the world to do is to go into a small shop or open-air market and try to bargain with the people for a lower price. It is a blast!

Let me give you an example of my own personal technique. Feel free to use some or all of these phrases the next time you are shopping in Mexico or Latin America.

Ok, let’s say that I wanted to purchase a new watch.

First I would start out by asking, “¿A cuánto está?” [ah quan-toe ess-taw?] (How much is it?) or “¿Cuánto cuesta?” [quan-toe cwes-taw] (How much does it cost?)

Sometimes, just because I am a gringo (foreigner) they will give me some ridiculously high price. If they do, I would say in a playful tone, “¡Soy gringo, pero no soy tonto!” [Soy green-go peh-row no soy tone-toe] (I’m a gringo but I’m not a fool). Then I immediately start walking towards the door as if to leave. Then they would then usually say “wait”, “wait”, “wait”, and proceed to give me a lower price (they know that “gringos” usually aren’t poor).

With this new lower price, I will look at the clerk as if he is insane and say “¡Demasiado, Ni hablar!” [deh-mas-ee(ah)-though knee aw-blar] (Too much, no way!). Then I say “¿Cuál es el precio de verdad?” [kwal es el preh-see(oh) de bear-thath] (What is the real price?).

Then they will give me a price that’s a little lower and there will be a series of me saying “Too much!” (¡Demasiado!) and him lowering the price three or four times.

Finally when I see he has gone down in price quite a bit, I will look directly at him and say “Usted cobra demasiado, lo siento.” [oo-stead co-braw deh-mas-ee(ah)-though, low see(en) toe] which means, “You charge too much, I’m sorry”. Then I will start to leave again and the clerk will usually give me the final offer to keep me in the store. I usually accept this final offer.

To me, the most fun part of bargaining is seeing how low I can get the clerk to go. After doing it a few times, it becomes almost like a sort of sport.

Always remember, never feel bad about asking for a lower price, it is expected in their culture and everyone participates in it.

For more information on shopping, be sure to go to section 12 of your complete Visual Link Spanish™ course. If you do not have the complete course, click here – it is on sale now!

Until next week and…happy holiday shopping!

To learn more Spanish words, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com

To learn more Spanish words, please visit our website www.spanishprograms.com