Overcoming Language Barriers One Kiss at a Time

So every single person here always asks Becky and I if we have boyfriends. When we say no they get a very shocked look on their face and exclaim "why not?!". I'm not sure what the correct answer to that question is... so let's put it up for discussion. What are some good responses? Feel free to let your creative energies flow and give me something good to work with here. :)

So after we give some awkward lame excuse to explain away our singleness, without fail our inquisitors helpfully say that they know lots and lots of good Ecuadorian boys who would be perfect for us. Hermano Gomez, who drives us to and from our teaching assignments each day suggested his son. An hermana at the workshop last week told me she could e-mail me with lots of options of boys in her area. These are just 2 examples of the many offers we have received. It's quite out of hand. It's strange, it seems to be socially unacceptable for young eligible girls to be single. Honestly.

So Tuesday night we had an informational meeting with the leaders of the stake to explain the workshops. Before the meeting began we were talking with the stake president who asked us the much expected question about our relationship status. After we said no, he told us a couple of stories about American girls who had come to Ecuador in the past and ended up marrying Ecuadorian boys. He starts talking about how it's sometimes hard though, because of cultural differences. We agree and say that the whole language barrier thing can be hard to get through. He shakes his head and says "no, I'm talking more about culture. Different ways of doing things. You don't need language to kiss. You don't need language to eat". We nod and smile and hold our comments for later discussion. The following picture is us with the stake president:

At home Becky and I had a good laugh about that conversation. The thing is, he was completely serious when he said that. We decided we agree whole heartedly. Maybe he's right, you don't need language to kiss after all. Yeah, communication... relationships... definitely don't go together. Food and affection, that's what it's all about.