During my high school years I took Spanish classes.  The last year we had to speak solely in Spanish and we were required to communicate only in Spanish during class trips.  Then living in Arizona for several years I was able to continue using my Spanish…I was by no means fluent but I could carry on somewhat of a conversation.  About 4 years ago I took a trip to Italy and learned some Italian before going.  The Spanish helped because the two languages are very similar and I was able to carry on a conversation or ask directions in Italian.

Now living in Tala, Kenya I’m starting to learn Kiswahili but I’m finding that when I go to answer a question I first answer in English, then in Spanish, sometimes in Italian then finally in Swahili.  I have even answered out loud to someone in Spanish only to realize they won’t understand me, but I guess some wouldn’t understand me if I spoke English, Italian, German or any other language other than Swahili or their mother tongue.

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. Genesis 11:1

That didn’t work for us, one language got us into a world of trouble but I’m finding not speaking the same language also gets confusing and yes sometimes frustrating.  I’ve heard when you stop translating in your head is when you finally get the language down, it took me several years to do that in Spanish so I guess it may take awhile for Swahili too.

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