Sunday, October 18, 2009

A funny...

I hope I can do this justice...

Foreword: When I leave town, I like to make sure that I have the next few meals, upon returning home, covered. It is a pain to try to get groceries when you are tired and it's usually late at night when we return. This time...I forgot to make sure...so...no spaghetti, no easy meals, nothing, nada, zilch. Only. PB&J. Which 3 out of 4 of us love...but the one who counts the most...doesn't LOVE it.

After returning late Friday night and having pop tarts for breakfast (Can you say "care package"?) and PB&J for dinner...I was in the middle of sorting laundry when it dawned on me...it's dinner time. Yikes. The King had stepped out of the house and even though we've had our share of western food this last month...I thought he wouldn't mind this time.

We are blessed to be just inside the "delivery district" of Papa John's. And we've done it enough times...Thank you Lord.

Anyway. When I call, I always ask if there is someone there who speaks English (in the national language, of course) because there is a girl who is there about half the time and it's so much easier to order in English. This time the answer was no. So, I proceeded to order in the national language. The guy(we'll call him #1)after telling me no one ther spoke English said, "Miss, wait a minute" and put the phone to his chest I assume because he then yelled at the top of his lungs, "FOREIGNER!" (as in...someone PLEASE help me!) immediately another person (guy #2) came on the line to take my order. I told guy #2 what I wanted and guy #1 came back on the line loudly saying my address and phone number...I said yes, and then guy #2 came back on telling me to call another number where they speak English. I repeated my order and they repeated the number. Ok. I get it.

Here's the deal...in all of this...I DID place my order....they DID understand it because they said it back to me (twice)....they DID know I wanted it delivered because they confirmed my address...and they still made me call another number.

So...I hung up and called the number...it was not a WORKING number. What? I resigned myself to PB&J for dinner.

Then....the King came home...by this time the reality of what guy#1 yelled was cracking me up. In the moment...I was focused on my language...but now...ROTFLOL!!! I could just picture him...he realized he was not talking to a local...assumed he would not be able to understand me...politely asked me to wait...an SCREAMED for help!!!

Well, after the King had a good laugh he thought he could do better. So...he called. They didn't yell FOREIGNER, but they did act like they couldn't understand him.

It's funny. Many people freak out a little bit when we speak to them because they ASSUME they won't understand us. Sometimes I just have to say, "Listen to me...I'm speaking YOUR language." And even then, at times, they think they don't know what we're saying. I've even heard of people walking off and telling their friend, "Wow, I didn't know I knew so much English!" You've GOT to be kidding me. :)

Long story short...we DID get a pizza...and a good laugh for free!

1 comment:

Ashley said...

Umm, hello ... if you're repeating it to me you obviously understood! I would've just cracked up hearing Guy #1 yell foreigner. Please don't be shy about it.

PS - Song of today:

My Tribute

How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me?
Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove your love for me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to thee.

To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

Just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord to thee
And should I gain any praise let it go to Calvary.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory for the things He has done.
To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

:)