Is it difficult to communicate??

 Most of you may know, Austria is a German speaking country. With a population of approximately 1.5 lakh people in Salzburg, I thought I will find some English speakers and live my life without learning german peacefully. Little did I know that even if people know English (which is a language taught in most schools now) they are not comfortable to speak in English. This is similar to India where almost 90% of the population ould prefer to speak in their mother tongue. No surprises there, why would anybody want to embarrass themselves in front of a stranger by speaking in a foreign language when they can simply avoid it. 

What is surprising is that language cannot divide the people who wish to communicate. Yes, it is such a beautiful experience to try and communicate without knowing what would be the right word for it. The emotions and feelings are conveyed in a seamless manner without being grammatically correct. I've had my fair share of talking with old folks who speak to me in german and think that i get what they are saying. When I reply saying, "Lieder, Ich spreche nitch deutsch. Sprischt du Englisch bitte?" They simply smile and do actions while speaking fluent german again. They sometimes extend and ask me what the object or feeling means in English. I've also met women who do not speak my language and yet we end up having coffee and trying to connect with my broken German and their broken English. 

The real nudge to start learning the language came from this one time when I was simply exhausted buying things at Europark and needed to find the bus stop to go back home (I know its right outside but I took the wrong exit and ended up at the ikea side). I had lots of bags and no patience at the end of it all. I asked a local who was taking a smoke break about the nearest bus stop but he did not understand what I meant but was keen on helping me. I promptly checked the google translate where "bus" in englsih returned "Bus" in german. After repeating bus for several times... he understood that I meant bos (the correct way it is pronounced) and I found my way. I learnt that pronunciation is the key here if you really want to talk in German. I also discovered that google translate actually pronounces the words for you if you would like which will make my life much easier. By making these small mistakes I am learning more. Living in a native german speaking world is challenging yes, but not extremely touch as I have met some amazing locals who go out of their way to help you. Many places like the supermarket, cross junctions, playgrounds, hikes we get to meet these wonderful people who are happy to help this clueless expat.

My son speaks no German yet but plays with all the kids he can find without saying much. I am sure its hard for him and the other kids but they manage as their goal is common - to play football or get dirty in the sand. He requests me to translate what he wants to say sometimes and that's what I do for him with my random accent and mispronounced words. Some nod in agreement, some answer back too and that seems like progress to both of us.

To answer the question above; Yes it is difficult to communicate when you don't know the language but it is not impossible to communicate. This makes the difficult an exciting new challenge for me.

It is my bad luck that I have already experienced a fall from my bike. Bikes are the most natural a eco friendly way of transport, with the city designed for bikers I soon wanted to join the brigade. I am new to all the rules and what roads to take but I thought how hard could it be to use my cycle as a means of transport. As I rode downhill on the mainroad my bike picked up speed and then there was a sign with a cross on bikes. My brain signalled to move to the pathway and keep riding and I feel bad as I am no pro cyclist. A lady in her 40s who was passing by picked me up and helped me to the side while explaining to me (in Deutsch) how even a slight raise on the road can cause fatal falls such as this and that I should be careful. I obviously thanked ("Danke") her but felt super embarrassed about my fall. A woman in her mid 30s who is now teaching her child to ride a bike falls herself and brusies her knees as she must have done 2 decades ago, wow that so not how I imagined my Thursday would go. Feeling such new emotions (embarrassment for not being perfect) is so refreshing for me.

Stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to learn new things is rewarding. I feel a little new again. I feel a little more alive than I did in Mumbai.