It’s Not What You Think It Is (Part II)

An Hojota

I am not sure if I have spelt this word right, as I have seen it spelt different ways. I heard it the first time when we had a party in my apartment and someone asked me to pass them their hojota. I had a look around and picked up a bag, as it was the only thing I could see which seemed to fit the word. Sadly it turned out to be something completely different; a type of sandal. If the Eskimoes, sorry Inuits, have got so many words for snow (and they don’t, it’s a fallacy) then the South Americans seem to have a decent variety of ways to describe sandals. Sandalias, chanclas, alpargatas, hojotas and chancletas are the words I have come across so far through my Spanish lessons and from speaking to people.

An Hacha

When I was sitting at home one day my neighbour knocked the door and asked me to borrow an hacha. I guessed that it was maybe a measure of sugar and give him some. He accepted and kind of slunk away in an embarrassed way. It was only later that I found out that he wanted an axe. Why would I have had an axe anyway? Does he think that gringos come to South America for Spanish courses carrying sharp tools in among their dirty socks and travel guides?