In Search of a Simple Rubber Band…
Never a dull – even when you’ve lived in a foreign country more than a decade.
Sorry, “solo horizontal, Señora”
Still adoring my adopted home here in Cuenca, Ecuador (especially my sweet digs overlooking the gurgling Rio Tomebamba). And while you’d think that after 11+ years of wandering these charming cobbled streets and noodling out where to unearth most every common household item, food, etc. (e.g. a simple safety pin, vertical file organizer – no such thing, “Solo horizontal, Señora”, etc.), I’d have put such cultural/language barriers behind me.
Nosiree. Even w/ my ever “mejor” Spanish, there’s still plenty of elusive words for common objects, foods, etc. that lead to furtive searches (often involving comical miming).
Case In Point: Tracking down a simple RUBBER BAND!
The truth is, I like nothing better than the daily challenges that living in a foreign country guarantees. Indeed, for this life-long wanderlust, having a home-base in a foreign land to use as a springboard for traveling to ever new near and far-away countries – is the very best of all worlds.
Furthermore, it is precisely the many little challenges that I actually THRIVE on. Since moving permanently abroad more than a decade ago (um, may I direct your eyeballs to that ticking clock ↑ above that’s poised to turn over to “14” years in a matter of days?), I’ve often said that I’d be bored silly within a week, should I ever find myself back in my old U.S. hood in Seattle. Everything would be far too easy there. Same language, same culture, same Target, same Walmart, same Home Depot, same-same everything that I’ve known all my life. Though plenty modern and comfy (no Virginia, we’re not all living in thatched, dirt-floored huts here in Ecuador), even as a veteran “gringa” here in Cuenca, there’s still plenty of surprises around every corner.
So here’s the thing… I’d run out of my small stash of rubber bands. Clearly a “first-world problem” but nonetheless, a PITA when I want to secure the cord to my food processor, hair straightener, etc. What to do?
Now I know that the Spanish word “cinturón” translates to “belt” in English. But I’ve learned that it likewise works well as “tape” when seeking a simple roll of masking tape. And “elastico” is as you’d expect – elastic. So perhaps “cinturón elastico” might at least get me in the ballpark.
Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, I dutifully Google for the Spanish word for “rubber band” and get “bandas de goma” (i.e. apparently “goma” means “rubber” – who knew?)
Btw, I could have simply dropped a photo of rubber bands on my phone (a method that’s worked great for “safety pins”, “bamboo steamer”, et al in the past) but I’m trying to learn a foreign language here people – so such image-crutches aren’t going to up my Spanish vocabulary game, now are they?
Anyway… so off I skip to the local “Target” (a.k.a. “Coral” here in Cuenca), intercept a stray worker, and politely ask: “Disculpe Señor, buenas tardes, ¿Cómo estás?” – the ubiquitous preface to every blessed social and/or commercial interaction here in Cuenca. And only THEN do I presume to ask: “¿Venden bandas de goma?”
Blank stare. Followed swiftly by a desperate look of misery as Cuencanos are nothing, if not exceedingly polite, uber-eager to please, and near-mortally wounded should they not be able to help a total stranger.
I try again: “¿Cinturón de goma, tal vez?” (maybe?) Which elicits a rapid walk to the hardware department where he proudly points to… yep the masking tape. 🙁
“Tal vez… ¿Las cosas para la escuela???” (school supplies, perhaps?)
Another energetic skip to the pencils, rulers, and crayons department and…
Woa – wazzat???
By golly – packages of colorful RUBBER BANDS!!!
Turns out (as evidenced on the package), here in Ecuador they’re called “ligas”. Apparently it’s slang, and “caucho” is another name for “rubber”. Go figure. 🤪
Then again… an “elastico” garter does make a smidge of sense, and “ligar” is the verb “to tie” after all (as in “to tie together” a series of fútbol teams, I suppose). So I guess it’s just another example of the gazillion nuances in learning a foreign language.
In any case, clearly Google’s literal “bandas” this and “goma” that didn’t cut it with my dear shop helper. And you can bet that I added a new bit of slang to my never-ending adventure of living here in Ecuador.
P. S. New here and curious who I am? Check my bio to learn more! Better yet, subscribe to my email list (so you never miss a single post) and get a pdf of my 30+ Best Travel Tips (trust me, at least one is sure to be a revelation).
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
enjoyed this post immensely. Says so much more about life in another country than the Standard blog videos. Plus I appreciate your ongoing effort to learn the language. I keep plugging away at it but I think I’m forgetting Old stuff faster than I’m learning new stuff.
Glad you enjoyed the post Dale. And yes, it’s important to me not to live in an “English Bubble”. After all, I’m but a guest in another country, so the least I can do is try my best to learn the local language. Besides, I do believe that it keeps my dodderin’ brain from petrifying. 😉
Poco-a-poco, keep on plugging away!
Sure gomme is French for eraser and the plant is actually called gome I believe. Good post anyway! Fun learning languages isn’t it. we did a lot of gesticulating in our 3 years in China. Especially when trying to purchase a popup toaster.
Yes Ruthi, I often mix up my Spanish w/ my (rusty) French and Italian (they’re all Romance languages and often the words are similar). And yes too, I believe erasers are generally made from a type of rubber, so that makes sense.
And learning languages is surely great fun indeed – I feel like I’ve unearthed an emerald or a diamond whenever I discover a new word!
lol that said – agreed, noodling out the Chinese for “popup toaster” would be quite a challenge!