I'm not even sure what to say about this. Caboolture High French lessons did not equip me for Senegalese hotels with a penchant for dermatological correctness.
French lessons are a priority this year - most of my work is in Francophone countries and I'm tired of not being able to ask questions. And even when I know the right words, my pronunciation lets me down.
Recently I was asked for my order by a waiter in a restaurant in Dakar. I ordered soup and told him I wasn't particularly hungry ("je n'ai pas beaucoup de faim"). What came out was "I'm not much of a woman" (faim, femme - tomayto, tomato).
After a startled moment, he asked if I'd like wine. I'm still not sure if this was to drown my sorrows or rekindle my appetite.
6 comments:
C'est tres hilarieuse, n'est pas?
I once ordered a hot man in Laos, when i thought I was asking for a hot coffee. That was awkward
PS - zucchinisoup is me, Alixon
I was wondering about identity...until I read the comment. I am intrigued though - what arrived at the table??
well, it was about 35oC, so *technically* the man who delivered my coffee was hot. and also embarrassed :D
and i gave up on tonal languages at that point
Hi Mon, I can empathise. I was in the one and only outdoor shop in Sao Paulo the other week and tried to ask if they sold a mug in my best Portuguese. The guy took me to a pair of bicycling pants. I rest my case.
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