Life on the construction site was exhausting, leaving me with a sore back and aching muscles, but at least I had a stable income, which gave me some peace of mind. However, the language barrier became a major challenge.
My fellow workers came from all over the country—Henan, Guizhou—and their accents were incredibly diverse, often leaving me completely bewildered. Communication was like a game of charades, relying entirely on gestures, yet even then, misunderstandings were frequent.
Once, a worker from Henan shouted, "Time to eat!" I was engrossed in carrying bricks when I heard the noise and saw him waving. Thinking he wanted me to hurry up, I quickly resumed my work. Seeing that I hadn't realized what was happening, he rushed over and dragged me to the canteen. Only then did I understand that it was lunchtime.
Another time, a fellow worker from Guizhou handed me a cigarette, smiling and saying, "Here, have one." I was thinking about how to earn more money to send home, and seeing him reach out, I assumed he was giving me money, so I happily reached for it. When I realized it was a cigarette, I blushed deeply, and the other workers around me burst into laughter. I was incredibly embarrassed.
Similar embarrassing moments happened frequently on the construction site. Each time, I felt bad, like I was separated from everyone, unable to fit in.
Luckily, there was Old Li, a kind-hearted man. He noticed my distress and came to help me. Old Li patted my shoulder and said, "Qiang, when we work here, we need to learn how to speak properly, otherwise, misunderstandings are inevitable. Come on, learn from me, 'thank you.'"
I tried to imitate him, but the two words sounded completely different coming out of my mouth; my tongue felt tied in knots, and I just couldn't get them right. Old Li wasn't in a hurry; he patiently taught me again and again. After I finally managed to say "thank you" smoothly, we started learning "how much?" Those three words were quite difficult for me too. Either I mispronounced "more" or pronounced "less" too harshly.
After practicing for a long time, I was still stumbling over my words, and I was a little discouraged. Old Li encouraged me, saying, "Qiang, don't worry. Language is something you learn slowly. Look at you, you didn't know anything when you first arrived, but now you're carrying bricks and earning money! Learning to speak is the same; as long as you put in the effort, you'll definitely succeed."
Hearing Old Li's words, I cheered up again. During the day, whenever I had a spare moment while working, I would practice speaking with my coworkers. When I saw someone buying something, I would listen intently to how they asked the price, silently repeating it to myself. At night, back in the work shed, while everyone else chatted and played cards, I would hide in a corner and practice pronunciation against the wall.
Gradually, I could understand some simple everyday phrases and could express myself with some difficulty. My coworkers ask me to pass them a tool, saying, "Pass me that hammer," and I no longer look blankly at them; I can hand it over accurately. When I go to the convenience store to buy things, I can say "how much," no longer frustrated by communication difficulties.
Although the progress isn't huge, every little bit of improvement makes me incredibly happy. I know that learning the language will not only reduce misunderstandings but also help me better integrate into this group and understand this unfamiliar country. I believe that as long as I persevere in learning, one day I will be able to speak fluently like a local, and then my life here will definitely be much smoother.