It has been pretty entertaining living here in Quebec City. Norm and I have been enjoying trying to communicate with people when we leave the house. The house is like a haven where we know what everyone is saying, but when we leave the house, we are entering French territory. =) We have definitely had many times of miscommunication with people when looking for something or ordering something. Usually we just laugh it off and move on. Well Norm and I both have one that just has to be shared for your enjoyment!
I will start with Norm’s because his happened about a month and a half ago.
Not long after we got here in Quebec, Norm started up his classes at the University and started learning so much. He would come home each day and tell me some new things he learned. I have been so proud watching him try out all his new knowledge. He is so brave!
Well, one day when Norm got home from class he said that he learned how to say, “I only speak a little bit of French.” So he was armed with a new practical expression that is used often! So that day when we had to go to Wal-Mart to get a couple of things he was ready to use it! We were in the electronics department looking for something, I don’t remember what. Well we were having trouble finding it so we found an employee to ask. Here comes the language barrier! So Norm proceeded to practice his French. But the guy didn’t seem too helpful. Norm of course used his new expression, “I only speak a little bit of French.” Which brought on a really funny look on the guys face. And then after not communicating very well we continued to look around for what we were looking for. A few minutes Norm looked at me with a terrible look on his face and said, “OH NO! I just told that guy that HE (the employee) only speaks a little bit of french!” Whoops! Norm was pretty embarrassed so we promptly left the electronics department!
Now on to my blunder…. Mine happened only yesterday! When I am out I try to pay real close attention to peoples body language when I am “talking” with them.
So yesterday I headed to Tim Horton’s to work on some of my homework after one of my tutoring sessions. I walked in and ordered a coffee and a donut, entirely in French! That is one thing that I can do in French. The thing about ordering is you can read someones body language to know exactly what is needed of you. Give me money, or which one, etc. I dare you to go order something at Starbucks or Wendy’s with ear-plugs in. It can be done! Just watch what they are doing. Well this time the body language didn’t work out for me so well. I ordered, payed and had my coffee and donut when the lady stuck her hand out to me and said something in French, which I didn’t catch at all. I am thinking…. OK, what now, the whole transaction is over. This is not normal! But there her hand waited. Stuck out like she wanted a hand shake, which would be so weird. But in my panic I stuck my hand out to shake hers. But my handshake was quickly rejected! AHH! When she frantically started saying, “papier, papier, papier…” and pointing at my hand. Then I realized she wanted the paper I had taken off the straw and had wadded up in my hand. Then the lady just wouldn’t stop laughing at me…. going off speaking in French a mile a minute. I was ready to crawl under a rock! But I was there to study! So I found my seat and sat down.
What a joy these little blunders are… and to think that they will be a part of our life forever. Don’t worry, we have many more funny stories in the making, you just wait!
On this day..
- It's Going Around - 2006
- Our Baby's Heartbeat (17 wks) - 2005
I love the blunders! They just crack me up. But I KNOW how it is. I remember being in France and going shopping alone. It’s an experience!
Language Bluders best describes my normal speaking skills in my native language. Some call it English, but I’m not concived.
May I tell a short story?
Something smelled wrong as the youth group I was working with sat down to a meal served by the camp staff. I commented to some of the volunteer staff that my smell receptors, my ovarys, were offended. The laughter that followed was a subtle clue that I had perhaps mis-spoke something. One of the guys kindly said the word “olfactory” would have fit somewhat better in that context.
I havn’t been back to that part of the country since.
-Ace
Haha! I love it! Thanks for the laugh Ace!
I have one that tops that. One that I am so embarrassed about I can’t put here for everyone to see!!! I will have to email it to you. HAHA!