Lost in translation

Someone told us the other day that if we really want to enjoy life here we must learn the language well. That felt like an insult but it was meant to be a good suggestion.  Recently I have seen that this is true.  I do enjoy all the new things we are experiencing but I also find myself very frustrated at times.  Take for example our situation with our neighbors.  I think we are the only foreigners in our building. (At least the only white people.)  That makes us especially interesting to our neighbors.  They like to watch us and make comments or ask questions.  Most of the time I have no idea what they are saying.  I just smile and say "Ting bu dong" (I hear but don't understand.)  The other day I got into the elevator with three other people.  I had a bag of trash and two empty bottles of laundry supplies in my hand.  One woman looked at me and said "blah blah blah bu lagi blah blah..."  I understood two words: not trash.  The man next to her said: "ting bu dong" and didn't even look my way.  What I understood that to mean was: don't even bother telling the foreigner because she doesn't understand. I just smiled and said to her "zuo shemne?"  (Do what?)  She just looked away.  Agh!!!  Was she saying that the bottles I had were not trash but they were recycling?  Or was she saying that now the trash bin had already been taken away or some other important information I needed to know?!  I will never know because they never said another word.  The trash bin was at the usual spot.  I looked in vain for another bin for recycling and then just threw all my stuff into the trash.  I asked some friends about this situation and they couldn't offer much help.  They said that we may have recycling at my building but it is rare.  

Another frustrating thing is the problem you can have when you understand most of the words but not the meaning of the sentence.  Lots of times I will look at the person speaking, think for a bit, then admit I don't know what they are saying.  After that they proceed to start the whole sentence over explaining all the words I already know.  So lately I just nod and smile.  Often this works because if I listen long enough I may piece the conversation together.  However, this can also backfire.  A couple of days ago I told someone I understood what she said.   Then she asked me to repeat it back to her.  I thought she meant in english but that was just wishful thinking. It was quite the mental work out.  I did come away learning some new words from that conversation.  I now know how to say "traffic jam" and "arrive early".  I'm hoping we start some official schooling in the next week.  Its fun to learn from being out and about but I think some structure will be helpful.  I'm also looking forward to teaching people english.  I can't wait to be the one correcting grammar and pronunciation.  Heehee.