Hello. My name is....

Back in my native USA, I was very extroverted, a real joiner, first to say "yes" and first to volunteer. I loved talking. Here, I find myself on the outs, quiet, aloof. Someone even accused me of being shy. Me? Shy?!? It isn't shyness at all, it's a serious case of nervousness. Dutch makes me nervous.

It isn't that I don't want to join, it is that I have trouble joining. Everyone around me talks too fast, and uses too high a vocabulary for me to follow normal conversation. I can barely keep up with listening, never mind trying to figure out how to get a coherent sentence out. I talk like Tarzan at age 4. (Yes, I am working on it. It also takes the average adult 6-8 years to learn a language sufficiently. I am a below-average adult language learner. I am pretty much doomed.)

One of my goals for this year is to participate in a craft show. This goal is two fold: first, to get my work out into the public, and second, to get up the nerve to mix a bit more in the native Dutch society. Even if my Dutch is rubbish, at least getting out there will help me get over my serious case of "the nerves" whenever Dutch is being used. That's my theory at any rate.

Still, I needed to get the word out to potential customers. How can I assist someone or answer questions if I have no idea what they are saying? I want a way to communicate the language barrier up front so there is no awkward "um, sorry, what the heck did you just say?" moments on either side. I also want a way for those who don't speak English to still feel comfortable talking to someone at my craft stall. I mean, the other goal is to actually sell something after all!

I don't want a uniform but still want to give that air of "yes, I work here." I thought the simplest way is to wear a name tag. Not that I expect anyone to call me by name, but it does visually say "I work here," rather than "I am a groupie." I started with simple name badges. And then improved them. With text bubbles.

One for me that shows I speak English, and one for my amazing husband (who actually volunteered out of the blue to help out at the craft show) who speaks both fluently. Now anyone visiting the booth knows up front who to speak to, and how. And I don't have to sit in the corner swooning with "the vapors" when someone speaks way to much Dutch at me at a horrendously fast rate.

Think my idea will work? Or should I still pack the smelling salts, just in case?