The Official 'Ask Dave' Section ----

Question

First of all, let me say I love receiving your newsletter each week. I am trying to find the spanish translation for the phrase: How may I help you? or What can I do for you?

I sometimes have spanish-speaking customers who have very little english or none at all & I am trying to find this phrase in spanish? Can you help?

Gracias,

Agnes

Answer

Hola Agnes,

The phrase "How can I help you?" in Spanish is, ¿En qué puedo servirle? This literally means "In what can I serve you?" It is found in the telephone section (section 11) of the complete course. All of the phrases on the bottom half of the page can be used in every-day business as well as on the phone. Most of the phrases on the top of the page can be used only while on the phone. For example, you can answer the phone saying "aló" but you would never say "aló" in person (while not on the phone). For more info, refer to section 11 in your course.

If you'd like to order the complete Visual Link Spanish™ course, click here.

Words of the Week -----
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Weekly Spanish Lesson ----

This week's lesson comes from the complete Visual Link Spanish™ course. Click below for Part 5 of your fun, interactive Sentence Building Lesson.

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Culture -----All Parts of the Cow!!? - Part II

First I'd like to thank everyone around the world for your wonderful responses to last week's newsletter which touched on poverty and the scarcity of food in areas of Latin America. You can view a few of the responses below. Since there were so many responses, unfortunately we weren't able to publish everyone's response.

We talked briefly last week about eating different parts of the cow so no food is wasted. This week I want to tell you about some of the interesting things I ate while living in Latin America. If it makes your stomach week, just realize that you are only reading about it; I had to actually eat them.

As I have mentioned previously, when eating at someone's house in Latin America, as I did 3 meals a day for two years, you should eat all of the food your host/hostess serves you or they can become very offended and hurt. I quickly realized, by painful experience, that I couldn't even give the food to a friend and have them eat it - I had to eat it all myself. As I learned more about Latin American culture regarding food, I made one food rule for myself that helped me get through the culture shock. The rule is, "when eating an unrecognized food, don't ask what it is". Sometimes I implemented a slight variation to this rule, "Don't ask what it is for an hour or two after eating it". This rule helped keep my mind focused, my stomach less weak and my plate empty.

Here are just a few of the interesting things I ate in Latin America that I wasn't accustomed to. We often had cow stomach. To me, it tasted a lot like edible rubber. It was usually cut into little pieces about the size of a coin; on one side it was smooth and rubbery, and the other side had fibers similar to those on a towel. It took me a few times of eating it to get used to it, but then it was tolerable. We also frequently had cow heart, liver and other interesting looking meats that I never dared ask what they were.

We had soup almost every day for lunch during the two years I lived there. It was hot soup even though it was around 100 degrees outside with no air-conditioning inside. Often the soup had an actual chicken's foot in it! The first time I saw a chicken's foot in my soup, I was shocked and thought it must be a joke until I saw everyone else eating their chicken's foot.

Now I'll briefly educate you on the fine are of chicken-foot eating. You pick up the chicken foot in both hands, and then nibble the skin/meat around each bone. This process can take quite a while, so if you get chicken's feet in your soup, be sure to plan your time accordingly if you have time constraints. The great thing about chicken's feet is that if you're watching your figure, you don't have to worry; you can have as many as you want without having to worry about calories - there isn't much to a chicken's foot.

While we're on the topic of chicken, in Latin America I learned to eat every bit of chicken from the bones; then I learned to bite the bones in half and suck out the marrow. When I first got married (back in the U.S.), and my wife saw me do this. She thought I had gone crazy and was about to send me to a psychotherapist. I really had to convince her that I was okay and explain why I bit the chicken bone in half and was sucking out the marrow.

A few other interesting things I ate were guinea pig, pig's feet and pig intestines stuffed with shredded pork cooked in boiled pig's blood. Even though the cultural differences in food were difficult to get used to, I came to enjoy these differences and soaked it all in. For me, it became a culinary adventure!

I loved every bit of culture learned in Latin America. Now, on to you - please let me know about some of the interesting foods available in your region of the country or part of the world. Write to dave@learnspanishtoday.com.

Moral of the Story: Some cultural differences can seem strange or even weird, but they are just that - differences. Remember, just because someone does things different or eats different things, it doesn't make them "weird". Instead of saying, "Wow - that's weird!" try saying "That is different."

Sneak peek at next week: "Spanish Names"

¡Hasta luego! ("Until later!")

David S. Clark -- President / Director
Visual Link Spanish™
Fun, Interactive Spanish Courses
http://www.learnspanishtoday.com
dave@learnspanishtoday.com

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Responses to Past Newsletters:



Note: Formatting on responses may have been changed to fit your screen.
Response #1

Hola Dave,
I do have an understanding with food not being wasted in Latin countries. Poor or not, food is hardly wasted( I'm from South America). Even if you're full, food is left for later or given to the dog, if you have one. We know that when you eat, it's a blessing from God, because there are poorer countries where people don't get anything to eat for a very long time. I live in North America now, and I volunteer at a shelter whenever I can. I try to help as many people as I can. I had to go to the food bank before, so now I return the favor. North Americans can definitely learn something by visiting a Latin country to see how we live. Take care and keep up the good work. God bless

Response #2

Dear Dave,

I love this Spanish course! I'm finally learning the language. This is the best program I have come across and am highly recommending it to friends. I wanted to comment on the article concerning not wasting food. The reason I ordered your program in the first place is because I have begun going to Mexico to where there is such poverty. After one trip, my heart was forever changed and I knew I had to learn the language. A group of us go down regularly now and visit orphanages and families who live in the garbage dump. We take as much food and supplies as we can get across the border and distribute it to the poor. Each time we go our hearts are knit more to the precious people there. I am determined to speak their language, so the communication barrier will be broken. Thank you for this wonderful program and your heart for the poor.

Sincerely,

Lisa Davis

Response #3

I am in total agreement. Even though I have traveled to many parts of the world, I have not seen poverty that you speak of. I was, however, taught to eat everything on my plate and was also told by my parents, "There were starving children in other parts of the world that would enjoy my food." It's interesting because to this day, even when I dine out, I get a take-home bag and eat the leftovers. I feel that restaurants portion to dollar ratio is out of control. I would pay less for not as much on my plate. I am reminded that, for instance, McDonald's charges $1 for a medium french fry, but $1.29 for a small. To me, this doesn't make sense and makes us, therefore, a more wasteful society.

Laurie
Chicago

Response #4

My siblings and I were raised in third world county, and as in Latin America, having enough food was a luxury. For that reason wasting food was deemed to be wrong. Punishment followed if someone should throw food away.

Owing to the fact that the locals were paid "pea-nuts" for their labour, money was very scarce. Food, clothing, school supplies,medicine etc. were in very short supply because of affordability. Being poor was the major problem, but at the same time plantation owners saw that as big profit in business. Keeping the people poor was the plan to have more work done for very cheap labour.

North America is a land of abundance of everything. People live, wear, eat, drink, etc. better than most people of other countries, likewise there is the mamoth waste of not only food but everything. My wife and I traveled to a few all inclusive resorts in Latin America, and we experienced the awful waste of food in the restaurants.

There again the waiters/waitresses are working very hard to serve people well with a smile. One can eat as much as one want and have as many servings as one wants.Very often, when clearing the tables, we saw them shaking their heads because of so much food being left over to waste.

Those poor workers could have used that food but they are not allowed to take any food home from the resort. That policy is understandable, but I often wondered what was going through their minds at that time. (Food that they could use are being muddled up and are thrown out) And yes, those people in poor Latin American pueblos need our help desperately.

Since most of those towns are geared to touristas, there is the need for "English language". among the natives. Can you tell me how one can be an independent English Teacher in any of these towns?

Danny

Response #5

Dear Dave,

I want to thank you for your Spanish program. After attempting to learn Spanish through many other methods/programs/classes, I am finally "getting it" and "retaining it" with Visual Link! I am a visual learner and your method is a God send. Thanks!

Also, I would like to refer your readers to Christian Children's Fund, if they are looking for a way to help children who are very poor. My husband and I have been blessed to have sponsored several children from a wonderful family in Ecuador for about 15 years. It has been a wonderful experience. CCF translated our letters into Spansih as well as the children's letters into English for us. Now, they are grown with children of their own. We hope to visit them someday in the near future. They are like family to us.

Thanks again,
Jeannine

Response #6
Dave,

Thanks for the weekly newsletter!

I especially appreciated today’s e-mail and the article about culture. I oversee a ministry called Kingdom Flight and we have a children's shelter on the poverty stricken outskirts of Juarez, Mexico. The houses are made from cardboard boxes and old pallets and it’s probably similar to much of what you experienced when you were serving as a missionary. We feed many hungry children each week at our ministry center and I can relate to seeing little ones scrounging around for food and eating off the floor, it’s sad!

I appreciate that you not only explained why Latin American people do not waste food but you also suggested a way for people to help make a difference. Thanks also for offering suggestions on organizations that they can contact to help where the money will actually go where it should.

Thanks again for the weekly e-mail newsletter and God bless.

Brad Bieganski
Kingdom Flight

Response #7
Dear Dave,
You know, I was really moved by what you said about the way Americans treat the luxury of food that they have become accustomed…it is amazing that even though we came from Europe, where it is impolite to take more than you will eat, Americans waste virtually every day…the all you can eat buffet has become the all you can eat and throw away buffet…why can’t more Americans understand that where you waste, others want…I was completely appalled the other day when I found out that companies that breed chickens for eggs throw away the eggs with double yolks…why aren’t these being given to the poor??? I could go on…and on…and on with examples, but after spending some time in third world countries myself, and then being back here in the United States, I realize that no matter how much I learn and appreciate the needs of these people, it won’t do any good until the powers that be set the example, and show that the needs of the poor are more important than their own pocketbook…

Sincerely,

Kim Mosher

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