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Languages or “how to survive in a different environment” |
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When I knew about my flight arrangements; I was very much surprised: the Convention was to be held in London and I was to arrive from Buenos Ares, but via Lufthansa. This meant the airplane was going to make a stop in Germany, giving me the unexpected possibility of visiting another country, for a few hours, at least. I was only going to spend an afternoon and a night in Germany, so as soon as I got to my hotel I dropped my luggage and went for a walk. An hour or so after, I needed a little rest and a cup of tea. of tea. It was not difficult to find a coffee-shop. Soon, a lovely waitress was at my side.
“I’d like some tea and toasts, please”, I said.
She looked at me, but did not move.
“Tea and toasts?”
She fixed her eyes on me, but did not move.
“Té con tostadas, por favor”, I said, resorting to my mother tongue.
At this point, she tried some sort of explanation. At least that's what I like to think. But I'm not sure, for I could not understand her.
Some minutes after she turned round and went into the kitchen from where she emerged with a cup of tea in one hand and... a plate with a sausage and Sauerkraut in the other!
I know Sauerkraut —it’s a typical dish of German cuisine which mainly consists of fermented cabbage. Not that I have any strong feelings against it, but I don’t like it for tea. Back at the hotel, I finally got what I needed. But I can't help thinking it would have been an excellent idea to learn some basic German beforehand. Alejandra D’Atri Alejandra is an English-Spanish translator and a Spanish instructor. She teaches Spanish live online through Skype/MSN Messenger, or at her school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also translates via e-mail.
info@intowords.com.ar |
