HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life: Coffee Talk with International Mommies

Segment 6 - Coffee Talk with International Mommies 

So when we first moved to Madrid, I found life here very different than in San Francisco.  The people in Madrid are so relaxed, so casual, so interested in family and “non-work” talk. The women dress very nice.  Just to walk in the park with a baby stroller means being decked out in the latest fashion and high heels.  Hair is always styled and make-up always perfect.

When folks find out that I am American, they are excited to practice their English and ask me all sort of questions about the difference between American and British speak – localization of life...

I was very intrigued by my new colleagues – international suburban mommies. So what do international mommies do here? 

First thing on the list is to check out the American Women’s Club of Madrid. Then, the International Newcomer’s Club. Then look at the English speaking mommy/child playgroups. Then the International English speaking non-denomination Church.  Finally, if none of these pan out (or if one needs more), sign up for Spanish for foreigners class at the local Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.

Once the choice is made, then comes the fun…coffee time!  Yes, no matter which club one joins, there will inevitably be the coffee chat.  Where, folks alike, get together and have coffee for hours.  So that is how I ended up having coffee talk socials 5 days a week (I didn’t even touch the stuff when in San Francisco, but when in Rome, or ...ah Madrid…) 

• My first coffee talk group was with mommies from my child’s international school – we met at least twice a week after school drop.
• My second coffee talk group was with mommies at the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas – we met twice a week in mid mornings after our class.
• My third coffee talk group was with mommies in my condominium community – we met weekly in the afternoons, after the kids’ school.

With all that coffee, I was roaring! So what do international mommies talk about in Madrid?  Apart from the normal - who are you? where you from? how long will you stay here? We also talk about …languages!  

What is the difference between American and British English? Our coffee chats became really fun because we also had an African mommy in the group, who was raised in British Africa, so she became the authority on British English in our group.  I won’t elaborate on the differences in this article but I will share some comments that got us arguing and laughing…

Once, we played a game where we wrote expressions associated with anger in English. Can you guess which ones were from the American and which were the English expressions?

• I’m gonna clobber you!  (I said that, got it from Homer Simpson…but the English mummy claims her granny used this one)
• You want me to snap you?  (the English mummy uses this one, and I like it, so I use it now)
• I’m a beat you silly!  (well, we both use this one)
• You’re getting on my last nerve.  (ditto)
• I’m at the end of my tether.  (all Brit, I say “rope”)
• I'm at my wits' end.  (we both use this one)
• Her crying is driving me around the bend.  (all Brit here, I say “driving me bonkers”)
• You are driving me up the wall.  (not exactly sure who claimed this one, I think we both did)
• I’m tearing my hair out. (ditto)
• She’s completely mad!  (I guess it depends on the context, I say mad to mean angry, the English say mad for crazy)
• I’m going to get postal on you!  (that’s 100% American)
• I'm so knackered, I've been racing around all day like a blue-arsed fly.  (and that is 100% English)

Then we wrote down expressions associated with love:

• He fancies you!  (totally English)
• She's got the hots for the new pool boy.  (America can claim that one)
• He fell head over heels for her.  (we both claim that one)
• She's the apple of her father's eye. (again, not sure of the origin, but we both claim that one)
• I was smitten from the moment I laid eyes on him. (I gave that one to the English mummy)
• I think my cat loves me, but it's only cupboard love! (I don’t think the word cupboard is ever used in America, unless it is referring to Mother Hubbard’s!)
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  (a classic, we both love that one)
• It's puppy love. (ditto) 
• Let’s shag, baby! (yes, Austin Powers brought this to America)

So coffee talk with international mommies in Madrid is more than the simple hello, what do you do or where do your kids go to school; we actually laugh and share some real localization tips for life.  Next time, I’ll tell you some expressions we learned in French from France and French from Canada. Yep even French speakers have a bone to pick about language.

… Stay tuned for the next Segment of HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life Series, where we’ll enjoy … Coffee Talk with International Mommies – Picking French Bones. 

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This article was written by Rachanee Thevenet, Co-Founder of HT Localization.  Rachanee is an Asian-American expat living in Spain with her family.  She loves all things international including food, art, literature, culture, languages and people. 

HT Localization, LLC. is a worldwide translation & localization agency providing a full range of professional language translation services, including social media localization, marketing translations, website translations, software localization, eLearning materials, documentation translations, etc.    With locations in the US, Spain, Zambia & Thailand, and coverage across all languages and most industries, HT Localization is well positioned to provide around the globe services for all translation needs.  

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