Advice Part 106- On being mistaken for a flirt ;-)

One of the more brave (and foolhardy) things I have done in recent years (and trust me, there's been a few....) has been to try to learn to speak Spanish. Apart from two terms of Japanese and French at high school, this has been my first attempt at another tongue.

And let's just say, it hasn't been easy. Rather, the more accurate description would be this:

From this experience, I can offer the following advice for young players- when writing in your non-native language, it is best to exercise considerable caution with your epistles, lest you unwittingly give the wrong impression.

Read on......

During the Christmas break, I had a respite from my Spanish classes. Whilst this was good, after a couple of months, I realised that my tenuous grasp on the language was becoming ever more slippery, and that I was in danger of forgetting a fair chunk of what I had "mastered" (sarcasm intended).

After my previous unsuccessful attempt to meet a face-to-face language partner, I decided to join a website where you can search for an email pen-pal who writes in your target language, and who wants to learn your native tongue. Perfect, right?

The next day, I was contacted by a gentleman in Spain, who was keen to practice his English. Even more perfect!

Said gentleman lives on a farm outside of Barcelona, and is very interested in grass (not THAT type of grass), the natural environment, and healthy outdoors pursuits. This was a bit of a problem, as I know NOTHING about such things.

Model conversation partner that I am, I tried my best to convey enthusiasm for his hobbies using my dreadful Spanish. "Ooh, you went on a walk on the weekend? That must have been FUN!!!!!" I gushed. Then when he mentioned a new grass species he'd identified in his garden, I replied "You are very smart!!! I think you know a lot about grasses. You are an expert, in my opinion!!!!" In order to make it REALLY CLEAR that I was enthusiastic, I put a hundred exclamation marks after my every utterance, as well as multiple :-)s and ;-)s.

I thought I was doing really well, until I received an email from my correspondent, saying thank you for my "flirtatious remarks and compliments", and suggesting that I was a "very friendly lady, jejeje ;-)" (That's Spanish for "he he he")

I was mortified. The unfortunate Spanish gentleman obviously thought I was some sort of coquette, with my overly effusive praise and attempts to be friendly and engaged (NOT that kind of engaged! The other one!).

Hence, I decided to tone it down. Now, when he mentions a bushwalk, I remark blandly "Walking is good for the health. It helps the heart and uses energy. It is a sensible hobby" or when he discusses his garden, I note "Flowers are beautiful. There are many different colours and varieties." I sound like some tedious English textbook, open at the chapter entitled "Talking about hobbies."

This is boring me to death. Perhaps a return to flirting is required? (Or should that be "Perhaps a return to flirting is REQUIRED?????!!!!! ;-) ;-) )