Episode description

Nancy: Esa es la frase de Bolívar, ¿no? Joffre: Yes, I believe that Simón Bolívar used that phase many years ago, so, arar en el mar. Nancy: That will be it. Joffre: Have you heard that expression, Jess? “Arar en el mar”. Jess: No, I haven’t heard that one. That’s a new one for me. Joffre: (Risas) What about you, Belkis? Belkis: Yeah, definitely I’ve heard this one (Risas). Joffre: Could you tell us the meaning of that phrase, Belkis, please? Belkis: Mmm I think is like when you actually work really hard for something and then at the end it’s not what you expected, it could be something like that. Joffre: Uh-huh. Nancy: The literal translation is plowing the sea, right? It’s like plowing the sea. Joffre: Uh-huh. Nancy: So, we have a phrase, I think maybe not exactly the way you described it Belkis, but we have a phrase, it’s like “herding cats”, like “herding cats” like it’s impossible to herd cats, right? Joffre: Okay, to herd cats? Nancy: To get them to do what you want them to do. Yeah, herding is like me or you, you are moving cows or sheep around, right? You herd them too, you get them to follow along, but you can’t get cats to do that. Joffre: Okay, yes, it’s like Belkis said, it is like when you are, let’s say that I’m trying to or someone it’s trying to teach me to play the guitar and it’s taking like one year and I’m not learning anything. Nancy: Uh-huh, okay. Joffre: That person say: No, “estoy arando en el mar”. I’m wasting my time Nancy: Uh-huh. Joffre: Because he’s not learning anything.

Hasta ahora Nancy nos ha enseñado que arar en el mar puede ser equivalente con “herding cats”, que sería como pastorear gatos, son rebeldes y no vas a lograr que todos te hagan caso, que todos vayan a un lugar común. “Estas arando en el mar” cuando quieres que todos los gatos estén en un solo lugar.

Escuchemos un ejemplo con nuestro amigo Alfredo desde Ecuador.

Alfredo: Para mi “arar en el mar” sería como cuando yo le crio a mi hijo con principios, con valores, con buenos modales, enseñándole todo lo mejor que yo pueda porque siempre los padres queremos lo mejor para los hijos, pero en alguna parte de la vida mi hijo se desvía por el camino del mal metiéndose en drogas, en licores, en cosas malas, entonces, eso para mi sería haber arado en el mar porque no sirvió de nada todo el esfuerzo, todo el afán que le puse.

Michelle: I think in English we also say, “labor in vain” “I’m laboring in vain”. Nancy: Laboring in vain, yes. Michelle: Doing a lot of work but not getting anywhere. Joffre: Exactly, “laboring in vain”. Velkis: Yeah. Nancy: Yes, I think that is more than like “herding cats”, yes (Risas)

Nancy: That’s what I do with my family, I try to herd cats to get them to do something and it doesn’t work. Michelle: That’s what our captain always says about our team: - Trying to get you ladies on the field is like “herding cats”! Michelle: It’s a little light harder than “laboring in vain” that is a little bit more serious. Nancy: Yeas, exactly, you’re right, uh-uh. Jess: We have a similar, well, I think, perhaps more similar to Spanish version we have in England, I’m not sure if it’s common in ****NO MORE SPACE HERE**** FREE COMPLETE TRANSCRIT AT https://cutt.ly/LxsIwYg***