Winging it

Speaking of cultural adjustment, I thought I'd share with you a couple of tips that have served me very well.

1. When in doubt, exaggerate your pronunciation. What might sound ridiculous to your ear will sound not-so-gringo to a native Spanish-speaker.
2. When you don't understand, fake it - or no-one will want to speak with you. I know this sounds naughty and deceitful, but the thing is most of the time social fluidity is of far more importance than the actual content. Conversations are more for building relationships than they are for transmitting information. Or at least that's how I justify the fact that I've been winging it for a year now. Usually I've been able to catch a word or even some words and guess the remainder; sometimes I've had absolutely no idea of what's being said. The practice is less necessary now that I understand most things most of the time, but it has stood me in good stead, preserving my confidence, making me an interested (though admittedly sometimes dimwitted) conservation partner, and it has certainly made good use of my problem-solving skills.

H/T Carolynn