Spanish bum steer

So thanks mum. Thanks a lot. What a perfectly planned bum-steer. 

Let's go back a few months. Back to Australia, when mum gifted me a pocket sized Spanish phrase book, a must-have for the trip. Truly, this couldn't have been more helpful - and thoughtful.

You may have read my pre-Mexico-flight post, filled with panic that I was not armed with the local language. Never fear, I had mums little Spanish phrase book with me that would be my language shield. 

Throughout the first few days in Mexico I diligently studied this little book, starting with essential greetings and then pouring over the numbers so I could hone in my negotiation skills.

I was learning quickly. And enthusiastically. 

Spanish is quite musical and fun to speak. The basic lesson I look from my phrasebook was to put a 'th' on almost everything. Pronouncing all the common words as follows:

• 10 = dye-th

• Thank you = gra-thyas

• Beer = ther-ve-tha

You get the gist.

Spitting and lisping my way around town - I wondered why the hell no one could understand me. Despite my continuous attempts, I was failing. 

And then the penny dropped - three weeks later when my 17 year old bicycle-taxi rider schooled me in the difference between European and Latin American Spanish. 

It turns out, the good people of Mexico think I have a speech impediment (no offence).

So I come back to 'thanks mum'. You're so worldly, so wise and so quick to press this Spanish guide into my inexperienced hands. Why did you give me such a big bum steer? 

Thilly mum.