Speaking English
I read a report yesterday that about 30% of the kids who are in Fresno elementary schools have English as their second language, and that there are over 70 languages represented in the school district. This reminds me of Lausanne where over half of the first graders in our neighborhood are not French mother tongue.
I speak American nearly down-right perfect. But I’m often caught "not understanding". For example, a few years ago while checking out at a grocery store the check-out cashier looked into my eyes and said: Paper or Plastic? Stunned, I thought a moment and answered: I’ll be paying cash. To which she replied: Paper or Plastic? I took out my wallet and laid the bills out on the plastic counter and said, "I’ll pay cash." She rolled her eyes and said really slowly: Do you want a PAPER bag or a PLASTIC bag? I sheepishly chose paper and walked out with my change (metal) and groceries.
This year, the question at the checkout was "Credit or Debit?" to which I intelligently replied, "What?". "CREDIT or DEBIT?", repeated the check out person. Now, this is bizarre, I thought. They’re asking me if I want them to debit my account or credit my account. Shoot, I’ll pick CREDIT any time.
Which is what I did.
So today, to all you USA residents, please talk slowly, enunciate, and don’t roll your eyes.
August 18th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
You - are - too - funny!
August 18th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
That’s hilarious. However, I do remember doing a double take the first time BOTH of those phrases were uttered to me.
Weird that I never thought about debit vs. credit before.
August 19th, 2006 at 1:35 am
I feel your pain. I can never understand why people who live in “uncivilized areas” insist on suggesting one can sweeten one’s tea when it is cold.
One must always sweeten the “Champagne of the South” (sweet tea) when it is warm.
August 19th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
More, more tell us more stories like this one Uncle B!
August 21st, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Cecil: You should have seen Doris and me trying to get it through our heads while we were in D.C. for that 10 days that we couldn’t order sweet and unsweet tea! The waitresses just looked confused, a friend with us just laughed at us, and a lady sitting nearby at another table leaned over and said “You’re above the sweet tea line!”