Lost in translation

The guy at the Iki checkout line is starting to realize I have no idea what he is saying. I wish I did, but since I don't, all I really want him to do is scan all my groceries and let me out of there without too much of a scene. Today, he started off by saying, "Labas vakaras" - "Good Evening." I can handle that much so I replied"Laba diena." Shoot, he started talking again.  It occurs to me that I shouldn't have said something to give the impression I speak Lithuanian. At the end of his question he stares at me till I give a confused shrug. He shakes his head sadly and continues the checkout process as I mumble  "As nekalbu lietuviskai" -"I don't speak Lithuanian." The shrug has worked quite nicely in the past, but I suppose it was too much to hope it'd work forever.

Language is a large part of my daily life here - and not just Lithuanian. The students at LCC come from many countries including, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Albania, Lithuania, and more. All these languages resound throughout the halls as friends of the same country speak to one another in them. It's incredible how these people can go to school in their 2nd or 3rd or 4th language (English). What's not so awesome is that nobody even speaks the only other language I'm competent in! Ancient Greeks, it turns out, don't enroll at LCC.

Lithuanian is coming along slowly, but my roommate Ieva and another friend, Aurelija, tirelessly support my efforts and even say that my accent is pretty good. 

I have had a wonderful time with all my roommates and with the other LCC students so far. We frequently have tea together and talk for hours. Sometimes we even bust out my mando and sing. Speaking of, Tanya and Lida asked if I would play for Karklu worship nights - I'm looking forward to trying my best!

Lots of tea = lots of fun- (me, Ieva, Aurelija, Tanya, and Lida)

Last night Ieva and I walked the city together as we returned from ice skating at Akropolis. For all those who know my wandering tendencies, you will be happy to know that I don't always go alone! It's wonderful that she is from Klaipeda and share her city with me in addition to her language and her room. What she gets out of it, I don't know -besides another friend!

I enjoyed going to a Lithuanian speaking church this morning. It was wonderful to worship in another language and see fellow believers rejoice in the same God that I know. The church also provided headphones with translations into English or Russian for those who need them. Hopefully someday they won't be necessary. I look forward to that day when I can understand the pastor...

and the Iki guy. 

We will all live happily ever after.