Thursday, April 8, 2010

More on my flawless Cantonese

Okay, look - whoever makes up these languages needs to stop making similar-sounding words mean opposing things. It's just not fair to new language learners. I'll never forget when, while living in Uganda, I learned I'd been asking for shit (amazi) instead of water (amaazi) for three months.

And here's what happened this morning: in my building's lobby, there was a cute little girl dressed up in a fairy princess costume.

Me: Ho genga!
(mother looks horrified.)
Me: LENGA! LENGA! HO LENGA!
Me: *runs away*

Yes, I told the little girl "how scary" instead of "how pretty."

To all my American readers, please rest assured that I'm representing us well over here.


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