海角大神

I was thrilled to report in Barbados last month for all the expected reasons (weather, beaches, food) and a slightly less conventional one: This would be my first time reporting a story entirely in English in more than a decade.

In the lead-up to the trip, as my anxiety grew over driving on the left side of the road and making sure I had all my interviews confirmed, I comforted myself with the notion that doing something in one鈥檚 native language inherently makes it easier.

Of course, I was wrong.

Between Britishisms and Bajanisms, I frequently found myself asking, 鈥淲hat?鈥� There were interviews where I even considered inquiring if the person spoke some Spanish.

But, like any language, it only took a strong dose of humility 鈥� and tuning my ear to what was initially a linguistic puzzle. When I was told, 鈥淭hat would be right,鈥� it wasn鈥檛 a use of the conditional as I first understood it, but somehow a gentler way of telling me something was correct. I learned to love local turns of phrase, like 鈥測es, please,鈥� which was doled out in situations where a simple affirmative just wouldn鈥檛 do.聽

鈥淚s the restroom over there?鈥� 鈥淵es, please!鈥�

鈥淎re you Bob?鈥� 鈥淵es, please!鈥� 鈥� ... But, ARE you Bob?鈥�

Now back in my adoptive home of Mexico, I鈥檝e finished writing my stories from Barbados, one of which you can read in today鈥檚 Daily about the innovative and growing sport of road tennis. Next time I travel to an English-speaking country to report, I know my expectations won鈥檛 be so idealized. But given the chance to return to Barbados? Yes, please!