...I am Portuguese-descent. I have a hint of French in there too. And I often say that my very wavy/curly hair is from the Moor invasion of the Iberian Peninsula :)
Both sides of my family come from different regions of the country and also Madeira Island. But I'll explain this on a different post.
I wanted to comment that Portuguese people are extremely precise on the use of their language, and that can sometimes cause confusion. Not mentioning a few good laughs.
The excerpts I have posted below are true stories that my family has experienced while visiting Portugal in separate occasions. If you don't have the patience to read them all, that's okay. :P
***We're lost and asking for directions
- Excuse me, sir? can you please tell me if this road will take me to *city name*?
- No, it won't.
- Oh, I see. Can you please tell me how can I get to Interstate *road number*?
- It's this one.
- But you just said this road will not take me to *city*.
- The road doesn't take you anywhere. The car does.
***We've arrived in Lisbon and get a ride with a friend to find the Avis rental car location. We're told the location is on the right side of the trains station. We get to the train station, go around the block and there is no Avis there. Luckily, we find another Avis in downtown Lisbon.
- Good morning. We had a reservation at the Avis by the train station but we couldn't find it. Can we get our reservation here?
- Certainly, but what do you mean you couldn't find it?
- We were told it was on the right side of the station. We went around the block several times and couldn't find it.
- But it was on the right side. You walk into the station, and the Avis counter is on the right side.
***Walking and trying to get to the street where my grandfather used to live.
- Excuse me, sir. Can you please tell me what do I do to find *street name*?
- Certainly? You walk up this road here. You will come across an intersection. Don't mind this road. Now, keep going further. You will come across an intersection. Do not mind this road. Keep going a bit further. You will find an intersection. That's the street you're looking for.
***We get to a shopping mall around 3pm, starving, and try to sit down at a restaurant for a meal.
- I'm sorry, sir. But now we're closed right now. It's OUR lunchtime.
And to McDonald's we went...
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2 comments:
Leisl, my dad is Irish, and those snippets remind me a little of the Irish was of thinking and speaking - an Irishman in Portugal.. that would be intersting!!!
It's funny you mentioned. Europe is do culturally diverse and yet I see a lot of similarities between the traditions.
My friend is from Spain and we were watching the Greek wedding movie. She said her family is just like that. And so is mine, so, yeah.
Chronicles of an Irishman in Portugal. That sounds like fun - plus a good title for a book/movie.
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