Cleaning lady

We have a cleaning lady here at the Institute. Her name is Tamara and she is very energetic and talkative.

Only problem is that she doesn't speak English. And she insists on talking to me in Romanian.

That's fine, in ordinary circumstances: taxi drivers, friends' parents, shop keepers, etc. I can usually follow along if the person speaks slowly and clearly. She speaks slowly and clearly. And doesn't stop speaking. I get so frustrated because I understand only about 20% of what she says.

She talks and talks and talks. I use my "dumb tourist" face with her more than anyone else. Normally, this makes people leave me alone. With her, she just tries harder to make me understand.

It would be different if I actually *wanted* to understand her, but she usually talks about random things that don't concern me, all the while calling me "Klara".

Most of the staff ignores her because once she starts talking, she won't stop. I just want to get back to my work but I don't know to say "Please let me work" in Romanian, so most of the time I try to "listen" politely while inside, I just wish for a babelfish or earplugs.

Sometimes I feel like a cat being barked at by a dog. She makes all the noise, I stay silent and neither understands the other.