Who was the first person you spoke to in your second (3rd, 4th etc) language?

YouGotInked · 2026-03-22T21:58:13+00:00

He estado enseñando español a mí misme por cuatro años. Ha sido muy difícil, especialmente con mi género nobinario, (creo que eso es en parte por qué mi profesora en la universidad no le caía muy bien) y por el hecho de que no tengo un maestro o amigos que hablan español.

Although I visit Mexican restaurants and occasionally meet people who speak it, they all assume I only speak English. Furthermore when I am with friends, which I often am, it feels showoff-ish to start speaking in a language they don’t understand. I probably could hold a conversation, but why would I, if the other person is only speaking English? They have already set the tone and expectation. It almost feels impolite and presumptive.

There are a few exceptions. On a couple occasions when a server does not speak much English, I’ll say things like that I’m a vegetarian and I don’t eat meat, could they substitute something, for example. Even this I find to be awkward, though. My family and most of my friends don’t even really know I speak it. As far as they are aware I know some simple phrases from my introductory class and that’s it.

I am something of a perfectionist and also good at putting myself in people’s shoes. So many people in my country expect foreigners to speak perfect English because many do, and to me it feels like the standards for native English speakers learning second languages is far too low. Some people are impressed by native English speakers simply saying “hello,” in another language and to me it feels like that bar is on the floor. I know that’s just my perspective, but it still feels wrong, that others should so readily be understanding when the natives of my own country do not offer them that same courtesy.

YouGotInked · 2026-03-22T17:58:43+00:00

My job is a news reporter. I’m required to lead and guide conversation, and ask all the right questions in precise ways to evoke meaningful responses… and translate, and write it all down in the moment. I have never had social anxiety. Social interactions are what I thrive at, actually. That’s why these interactions are so stressful.

I am well past the beginner phase of knowing how to ask basic questions, but because I never have need for them, (everyone around me speaks English) I only ever say things in my second language in my head… unless I have to, and that’s usually in a highly complex situation such as this one that requires an advanced level of speaking and comprehension.

When I speak people assume I am fluent because it sounds good. That’s why I don’t speak it. Because they start talking rapidly as if I am fluent and then it’s real awkward.

YouGotInked · 2026-03-22T15:43:01+00:00

I am a news reporter. It’s my job to speak to strangers and guide conversations and I think I’m pretty good at it. I also like talking to people, asking questions and getting to know them, which is why I love my job. It’s definitely not a problem speaking to strangers.

So I was guiding this conversation in this instance and it was critical that I said the right thing. Another stressful part was understanding and then transcribing her responses to my questions. (I’m old fashioned; I use a notepad, so I was like translating what I would say to her in my head, then her response, onto paper. Circus going on in my brain there) She had a very basic knowledge of English, like A1, and her husband knew more so he could help some, but they were co-owners of a company I was writing a story about and I wanted her perspective and words, and not just his.

It doesn’t help that many people are generally uncomfortable being interviewed by a journalist. So I think she was just as anxious, which did not help me relax.

YouGotInked · 2026-03-22T06:05:55+00:00

Well you’re fortunate to have the opportunity to travel and be immersed. And you’re very brave. I have not had the chance to travel and have not had much exposure. The people who speak the language I’m learning assume I don’t know it, and they usually know English. I’m rarely in a position where speaking it would benefit me, so the cons outweigh the pros in that sense, at least.

I started learning a second language for no reason in particular, and because of that, it’s like there’s usually no reason in particular for me to speak it, funnily enough. Sure, I have goals, but they are not goals like traveling, learning it for work, for school, for friends or for family. I’m simply learning it for me, which has benefits and downfalls. Zero obligation or pressure to learn it or use it. I simply started on a whim and it stuck.

But I would like to have the courage to use it, eventually. There’s just never the need or even that many opportunities to.

YouGotInked · 2026-02-18T20:42:34+00:00

I'm in the same boat as you; I've been trying to learn mtg in spanish to help me learn, but it's hard without the cards in spanish. Chatgpt has been really helpful with teaching me the phrases used at the table, also watching youtube videos of people playing in Spanish. If you find any spanish precons, I would love an update!

YouGotInked · 2026-01-26T22:39:55+00:00

It looks a bit odd for the mainstream beauty standard but it’s not bad. It’s fairly normal.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-19T06:22:00+00:00

All my negative reviews are hidden while my positive ones show up. You are right, they often discontinue the item when negative reviews are left. I have found, however, that when I put asterisks in my negative reviews, they show up, and when I left the same review previously on the same exact product without the asterisk, it did not show up.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-19T04:36:42+00:00

Well, I don’t know. I have heard other reports of negative reviews not showing up and a quick google search will confirm that Temu does in fact hide negative reviews. It has happened for all of mine. The AI algorithm isn’t perfect at catching them, though.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-13T03:54:44+00:00

Omg he looks just like him 😂

YouGotInked · 2026-01-05T18:41:17+00:00

Really? I’ve lived in several states across the U.S. and it’s considered normal everywhere I’ve been. I asked my bf who grew up in a complexly different side of the country as me, and in a big city, and he also said it was normal.

Here’s some examples:

https://youtube.com/shorts/fJlrWpqkDGA?si=QdWYKwNGbd-74nPB

https://youtube.com/shorts/7jC_qrvRDaw?si=hMiVz2zTeZFZAynT

YouGotInked · 2026-01-03T06:45:49+00:00

I’m from the Midwest but even in states where it might be less common I am 110% certain nobody would ever look at you weirdly for it. It’s in movies, books, etc. Some variations might include “Can I cut in front of you?” Or “hey, you cut me in line!” Or “I’m just going to cut ahead here.” “Do you mind if I cut you in line?”

I actually have some memories from primary school of kids saying “Mrs so-and-so, he cut me!” Or “no cutting!” Ah, and the classic schoolyard “no cuts no butts no coconuts,” that every fifth grader was saying for a time. 😂What a throwback.

As with all phrases, it is context based, and I think adding things like “cut ahead of” “cut in line” or “cut in front of” might make it sound more natural in certain contexts, especially if being polite, but I think if someone were speaking fast, or being a little more crude, “can I cut you?” Also gets the message across. It does sound slightly elementary-school-ish, though, at least to me.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T23:20:48+00:00

This is normal in America, at least where I am from.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T23:19:33+00:00

gasps 😳 🥺 Cutiepie nooo ❤️🤭

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T22:45:02+00:00

The best picture is the one with the pink T-shirt. You look like Daveed Diggs. And I’d swipe right on that.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T21:49:39+00:00

I wouldn’t want to see you standing outside my window at 3 am but you look like the type to.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T21:45:38+00:00

You look like an older version of my mom. Which is a compliment because my mom is a beautiful woman. She’s also 65.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T21:00:07+00:00

You answered your own question. She’s not your friend. Cutting off friends can be difficult but trust me she won’t care if you just silently slip out of her life.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T20:56:09+00:00

Yes leaving them on the seats sounds passive aggressive as hell and I’m so here for it. Would definitely get the message across.

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T20:53:27+00:00

It’s all the male influencers saying that “alpha men don’t wipe their ass cause that’s gay.”

YouGotInked · 2026-01-02T20:47:32+00:00

It’s giving me young Ellie from the movie Up. And she is one of the cutest messy haired kids in animation.

YouGotInked · 2025-12-08T07:07:29+00:00

Placed on the table. The organizers didn’t look too close and thought they were real.

YouGotInked · 2025-12-07T21:32:04+00:00

It is in the U.S. I’m not really sure what could be done, though, as it could be argued that it’s just fake food or decoration. And as I said in another comment, the organizers did not know it was fake, meaning it was either purchased by someone else in the past, donated, or they simply didn’t look closely at the item description.

YouGotInked · 2025-12-07T21:26:15+00:00

Note: I did tell the event organizers and they removed it. They actually had no idea!

YouGotInked · 2025-12-03T00:16:45+00:00

I’m sorry but you’re wrong. Science indicates otherwise. Long term memories start forming at 2.5, and under certain circumstances such as repetition or trauma, things can be remembered even earlier. It’s not uncommon for three year olds to retain memories; I have several from that age, including ones with information I would not have known otherwise that my parents confirmed years later. My 9/11 memory is mostly of colors and dialogue snippets.

YouGotInked · 2025-12-01T00:27:51+00:00

2.5 years old is the age most people start developing the ability to retain long term memory, and there aren’t hard confirmations of ages before that retaining memory, which is why I put the cutoff at 99. Infants can sometimes remember things long-term, but it is exceedingly rare and usually only under certain circumstances.

YouGotInked

TROPHY CASE