New country, new language I can't speak...
I had a rather comical interaction with a woman at a travel agency in Hat Yai. We were changing minibuses to head to Krabi and I had no Thai currency. I tried to ask the woman where I could find an ATM. She looked at me with a look of utter confusion. I said that I needed Baht and wanted an ATM. Her face lit up and this time I knew she had it. But then she said, "Currency exchange?" and pointed to her office.
Hmmm, this was going to be harder than I thought. I carefully said the letters "A-T-M" and explained that it was a machine that gives you money. Again, that look of confusion, head tilted to the side, eyes squinting, lips pursed. Refusing to resort to the typical foreigner tactic of shouting the same words repeatedly, I pantomimed my words as I spoke them. "ATM: It is a machine. You put in your card and it gives you money." I looked at her hopefully. "Oh, ATM," she exclaimed and pointed me to the 7-11. Agh!
By the way, 7-11 stores are as prevalent here as Starbucks in the states. I even saw a 7-11 across the street from a 7-11. (Cue the Denis Leary rant.)
And one last language nit for today. I ordered lemon juice with my dinner. I don't think Thai people know the difference between lemon and lime. It should be a very entertaining few weeks.
[If you are sitting there with your head tilted to the side, lips pursed, squinting at the title, then I should explain that it is a line from the movie Better Off Dead.]
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2 comments:
But have you met anyone who learned how to speak from Howard Cosell?
Oh and while you were at the 7-11, did they say "Thank you, please come again" in a language you can't speak?
Bill - using Michelle's computer and too lazy/tired to log in himself.
Bill-
You have clearly seen this movie as many times as I, which is way too many. Is it obvious that we grew up in the same house? (Truly, a sight to behold!)
As for the 7-11, they didn't say much when I left. But at the good ones, they all say something in unison in a sing-song voice when someone enters, which I suspect is "Hello and welcome to 7-11." It's either that or "Hello. Please don't man-handle the bread."
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