Here's something really strange about Spanish. It has no word for the English word "awkward." This is frustrating, because I find myself creating many awkward situations either because I don't know a word, or I say something wrong, or by the sheer fact that I am a Gringa. Anyways, I have had the need to use the word "awkward" in Spanish on several occasions, but it doesn't exist. Instead, they tell us to say, "que extraño," which means, "how strange." Not the same connotation or denotation, if you ask me!
The other word they don't have, which is also strange and creates awkwardness, is the word, "cute." So when someone shows you a picture of their baby and you want to say it's cute, you can't. So then it's awkward, because I have nothing to say. The only thing that comes remotely close to "cute" is to gasp, clasp your hands together, and say, "AYYYYY, que Liiiiiiindo!" in a gushy, overexaggerated voice. But that gets annoying after the first time, and its literal translation is, "how beautiful," which is still just not the same. So now, when people show me something that is cute, I just smile and nod and it's...awkward!!
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can i just tell you how many times i've had troubles with the EXACT same things! geez, i could have written that blog entry. the best word i've come up with for awkward is "incomodo" but they really don't have a word that carries all of the same significance as awkward, which really is a shame. i love the word awkward. lacking cute is also a problem. i don't usually like to call dogs "lindo" but cute would surf ice. silly language. so have you notices that when you speak english you're starting to translate from spanish to english. i've started saying i'm "getting to know a place" i haven't met it (no he conocido esta lugar) or i use words like tranquil, that i normally would never use in english. OH and i don't know if they say this in costa rica, but they say "obvio" here all the time, like, "well duh" which i love, but i've started to say "obvious" in english, which has alot stronger, ruder connotation... i'm pretty much going to be an english speaking freak by the time i get back. haha, well, just thought i'd share some of these crazy troubles with you. love you dear!
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