We had our first visitors last month and it made me realize how far we've come with the language. Here are a few examples of our interactions with the native peoples. (Some have been recycled, apologies if it's old news to you)
Ordering a muffin:
Me: "What kind of muffins today"
Kiwi: "Spinach fetter or beery"
Me: "Beery?"
Kiwi: "an spinach fetter"
Me: "What kind of beer?"
Kiwi: "BEERY, strawbeery, bluebeery, raspbeery"
Me: "Spinach fetter please"
Patient after hysterectomy:
Kiwi: "Win can oy have six?"
Me: "What?"
Kiwi: "Win can oy have six?"
Me: "What?"
Kiwi: "Win can oy have six?"
Me: "Six what?"
Kiwi: "SIX"
Me: "Sex?"
Kiwi: "Yis, win can oy have six?
Me: "Sex weeks"
I was just walking down the corridor (hall) and overheard a patient/employee interaction:
Patient: "What?"
Employee: "Audiology is right here"
Patient: "Where?"
Employee: "This is the audiology department!"
Patient: "What?"
Employee: "YOU ARE IN THE AUDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT"
Patient: "Ok"
No one here knows what a gynecologist is, either:
Me: I’m an OB/GYN.
Kiwi: What’s that?
Me: A gynecologist
Kiwi: What’s that?
Me: A gynaecologist
Kiwi: What’s that?
Me: An obstetrician
Kiwi: What’s that?
Me: I deliver babies
Kiwi: A paediatrician?
Me: Never mind

Honestly, Matt, you could write a short book! These are so funny, so well written! Man, cannot wait to order a beery muffin!
ReplyDeletelove it!!!
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