How funny to have this as a topic … we have spent the last 3 weeks saying “CHEESE”
Let me take you back to July 2007 …. Hubby and I are travelling along Route 66 in the USA – a perfect roadtrip for us Aussies, we’re having a fabulous time … and the differences in the “English language” hasn’t proved too much of a problem – we can usually make ourselves understood … like asking for a ‘restroom’ not ‘where’s the loo’ and taking an ‘elevator’ not ‘the lift’ …..
We were in Missouri and visited an Indian trading post …. it wasn’t the friendliest of places, we felt like we were being watched the whole time we were there (making sure we weren’t stealing anything), we made our purchases and headed out the door … as per his normal self my hubby said “Cheers” as he walked out. We headed to the car to find the woman from the store running after us …. “WHAT DID YOU SAY? ” she said threateningly !!
“Cheers” replied hubby …. “it means, goodbye, see you, thanks, have a nice day, that sort of thing”
“hmmmm” she says … “I thought you said CHEESE”
This of course set us off for the rest of the trip saying “Cheese” all the time … fast forward to the last few weeks and us on our third trip down 66 .. and it brought back the “Cheese” memory and we found ourselves saying it all over again. Especially with our friends who knew the story from last time.
I also now have a “BEER” story … we went to visit with a friend on the Route, and he had a bear skin rug on his lounge room floor, I’d never seen a ‘real’ bearskin rug before ….
so I said to my mate “Can I take a photo of your bear on the floor”
he looked at me … and put his BEER on the floor and said “gee you Aussies have some funny habits”
who knew English was so hard to understand !!!!
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Beer on the floor vs Bear on the floor
Words Words Words 
haha funny! was it just a miscommunication in accents? beer – bear? hmmm
Comment by floreta — September 26, 2009 @ 7:59 pm |
what a great story. lots of fun. sorry you felt uncomfortable at the “Indian Trading Post”.
My guess is that it was not run by the true “American Indians”. I have spent wondrous hours with the native Indians and they are wonderful people. I have also spent time in the tourist trading posts and I know what you mean. Also a lot of their “Indian Artifacts” come from China.
Can you imagine trying to protect yourself with a “Dream Catcher” made in China.
Comment by Old Grizz — September 27, 2009 @ 1:51 am |
😀
Same language becomes different in different parts of the world. Here to Hindi has so mant different meanings.
dad, will you walk one more time with me?
Comment by gautami tripathy — September 27, 2009 @ 2:41 am |
So funny! Thank you.
Comment by Mara — September 27, 2009 @ 4:38 am |
I live in a high tourist area in Holmes County, Ohio. It is intereting trying to interpret the different takes our visitors have on the English language. I try to remind myself that I sound as funny to them as they to me.
Comment by cricket51 — September 27, 2009 @ 10:16 am |
Let’s just assume you had said, “Cheese!” on the way out of the trading post. I still don’t get why she would have chased you down!
Funny, though, isn’t it, how things like this become part of the stories of our lives? It was just a random stop in Missouri and now you have a tale that you have shared with us and given us pleasure, too.
Love it. xox
Comment by AGirlNamedMe — September 28, 2009 @ 12:00 am |
What fun memories to carry!
Comment by Tumblewords — September 29, 2009 @ 6:17 am |