One very random thing that I found myself doing in China was talking French. To Chinese people. Who spoke no French and by the time I realised what I was doing, were looking at me like I was clinically deranged. Which was probably fair enough.
What did I find myself doing today?
Some French teenagers came into McDonalds. They barely spoke a word of English, so I thought I'd help them out by speaking to them in French.
I spoke to them in Mandarin Chinese. They looked at me like I was clinically deranged. Which was probably fair enough.
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What do we want?
2 days ago
Funny! I guess there's a certain amount of language confusion when you live in another country for awhile. Anyone who speaks 3 languages has my utmost respect.
ReplyDeleteIn French Polynesia they speak french which I studied for years but never become conversant. I also studied Spanish and was mildly capable for a little while but that was a long time ago. So what came out when I tried to speak French? Spanish! Some interesting neural stuff going on there most likely.
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious. My son's been speaking French and Hausa for 2 years, so sometimes when I'm talking to him on the phone he thinks of the French word before the English word comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteTeeheehee...i've done that French thing in India on a coupla occasions so i like to think you're not clinically deranged. Also once spoke French to a hotelier in Spain cos we both spoke better French than each other's English/Spanish. That was fun.
ReplyDeleteAre you really working in McDonalds? If so, how're you coping?
I've recently had to take several backward career steps and, despite the lack of cash, i'm kinda enjoying doing entirely different stuff from what i've been used to all my dull working life.
Don't want it to go on forever but it's quite good fun in the short term and chastening yet weirdly exhilirating to have downsized my expenditure. (Must be the latent Presbyterian within me.)
I feel that in the interests of honesty I should point out that my Chinese is basic survival level, and frankly, my French is not what it used to be either.
ReplyDeleteNaldo - Yes, I am. Going to be working there full time over the summer, then will be working as a cover supervisor at a local high school. It's ok, I've only done two shifts though, espcially as I know it's not forever. It's an incredibly young work place, I feel ancient in comparison to my coworkers, who when I say I'm 26 look at me like a mysterious and wonderous visitor from a different land.