Ya ni gavaru pa ruski

This week I found myself in my office with a resident who did not speak English. We were waiting for the social security office to call so that we could arrange for an increase in her SSI benefits. While we waited, she spoke to me in Russian for about 10 minutes without a break. I kept using my only Russian phrase, "Ya ni gavaru pa ruski" (I don't speak Russian), but that didn't seem to stop her. Whenever she would pause I would smile and respond in English, "I still don't understand you.", "I wish I knew what you were saying because you seem really happy about it." or "I sure hope the social security office calls soon."

After 15 minutes and still no phone call I desperately tried to connect with her. I knew she spoke several languages. "Ruski, Armenian,...What else?" I asked. She seemed to understand and listed off 4 languages. If I understood correctly she speaks Russian, Armenian, French, and German but sadly no English. Still trying to connect I pointed to myself and started to list off the languages that I speak.

Me: English...um...How do you say that pa Ruski?
Ms. A: Angliski
Me: Da. Angliski. Spanish...umm..Español
Ms. A.: Oh! Espanski

Now I was really excited.

Me: Da da! Espanski. (I sure hope that means Spanish) Hebrew...Ivrit
Ms. A: Ah!! Ivriski!!
Me: Da. Angliski, Espanski, and Ivriski

She listed her languages again. Having firmly established that we didn't share a common language we stared at each other in silence for a few moments until I tried to tell her that my mom's side of the family is Polish.

Me: Babushka...Polska.
Ms. A: Polska!!!

We had connected again. She went on to tell me a fascinating story. Well I'm sure it would have been fascinating if I had understood her. I think she was telling me all the places she had lived including Poland. Although I can't be certain, I think she wanted to know where in Poland my family was from and whether it was my mom or dad. Trying to clarify, I told her "Papa, America. Mama, America. Babushka, America" Now here was the tricky part. I didn't know how to say great grandmother so I improvised. I listed the generations. "Mama America, Babushka, America. Babushka Babushka, Polska" I'm not really sure if saying it twice makes it a great grandma but that's what I went with.

It was during this conversation that Julie, the other USC student here, stopped by my office.

Julie: Am I interrupting?
Me: No we were just having a conversation in Russian.
Julie: You don't speak Russian do you?
Me: No. Ya ni gavaru pa ruski.

Ms. A perked up and repeated what I said along with something else in Russian and started to laugh. Since Julie and I weren't laughing she repeated the joke, this time with more emphasis on the punchline. I guess it's all in the delivery because sure enough Julie and I chuckled a little that time. She went on to tell another story.

Me: She's telling us about how her husband comes from a very important family in Russia.
Julie: Really?
Me: I don't know. But that's the story I'm going with.

The social security office called and 20 minutes later we had negotiated her increase. Hanging up the phone I looked at her and said, "That's it." To my surprise she smiled and said in English, "Finished!" We had connected again.