Something that has really struck me while I've been here is the eager assistance I've experienced from strangers when it comes to the language barrier.
For example:
Yesterday I went out and about by myself for the first time just to get a cup of coffee down the street. I'm walking along, enjoying the beautiful day and thinking about how much less intimidating it is to be out by myself than I thought it would be. I walk into the little coffee shop and as I try to express to the woman at the counter that I want an iced coffee to go she repeats "espresso" in response. Espresso happens to taste like dirt to me so as I'm rifling through my translation dictionary trying to figure out where I'm going wrong the guy standing next to me says "Do you need some help?" I look up at him like I have never been so happy to see this stranger in my life. I was really desperate for a good cup of coffee. After some discussion he explains to the woman what I want, chuckles and says "You just have to make a motion like this towards the door," and flails his arms around a little bit with a wink. I thank him one more time, he says no problem and with that he's gone.
This has happened my student teaching comrades and I multiple times throughout our stay here. Often times, the people we run into seem eager to practice the little bit of English they know and we'll laugh a little at the combination of broken Portuguese, English and charades that we use to get our point across.
It's a pleasant surprise so kindly-received by this country.
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