I used my newly learned Hebrew to order pizza tonight! That's right! I ordered pizza in Hebrew. Well, part of the conversation was in Hebrew! The problem is that people speak so stinking fast. What is the deal? We all do it. Everyone. In every language.But this is something you don't think about until you are trying to speak a different language, or worse, trying to hear a different language. I can say (in Hebrew) I..............want.............to....order.................two............................pizzas.......................and..a......................bottle..................of........Coca..Cola...............................Thank.............you. And they say (in Hebrew) What'syournameWhat'syouraddressWhatdoyouwantonyourpizzas? And I say (in English) WHAT???
It can be a bit frustrating at times but I was still very excited when I got off the phone.
I think one thing that is encouraging is when they reply to me in Hebrew when I speak to them in Hebrew. It makes me think my Hebrew is believable.
I'm pretty sure I have the people at my new hangout, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, convinced that I am a native Hebrew speaker. I only order in Hebrew and understand what they say to me. Granted, I say (in Hebrew) Chai Latte. Regular. For here. And they say (in Hebrew) What'syourname. And I say (in Heblish) Tonya. And they say (in Hebrew) Anythingelse? And I say (in Hebrew) No. This kind of conversation can fool even the brightest of people. Really. Ask the employees of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
7 comments:
Too funny.....I know what you mean. If I tried to use the little Japanese I knew, they would then think I spoke the language and off they would go. When in reality I used most of what I knew just to get that far.
You so failed to mention to me that you ordered our pizza in Hebrew!!! No wonder it tasted so good. :)
WHAT? Are you writing in Hebrew or something? I don't even understand you anymore.
(What I'm trying to say is... Cool. :)
ha ha! that's funny, reminds me of my time in china. no wonder they laugh at us behind our backs! we sound hilarious.
mynextdoorneighborischinese.sometimesitshardtounderstandthemalso.
that post was funny, Tonya!
tk, you are becoming quite the writer. Great post! I can't wait to hear you speakin Hebrew. Do....you...want...to...go...get...some...coffee...when...you...get...home? I said, in Engligh, "Do you want to go get some coffee when you get home?"
The only problem with speaking a few phrases really well in a foreign langauge is after that the natives just start rattling off all sorts of stuff at lightening speed. And then I'm like, um yeah, I was just pretending to be fluent. Please return to speaking to me as though I'm intellectually challenged.
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