Anyway, life and school have continued despite the weather and Jacob has enjoyed wearing his rain boots to school. This morning it was not raining and even though the school grounds are most likely in the same state of sogginess as our own I sent him off with a non-boot pair of shoes to change into just in case they were allowed outside to play. So when I dropped him off I informed the teacher that Jacob had trainers in his pack if they went outside.
Crickets...
"Trainers?"
Blank stare...blink...because for the life of me--just like every single other time I get called out for "Not being from around these parts"--I cannot think of the American word for that particular type of shoe...
Fortunately for all, I now come with a Translator...
"She means my sneakers, Mrs. A." Jacob piped up in a Very Official voice and then clarifies, "because I can't run in my boots."
12 comments:
Aka: GO-FASTERS
:)
You bring back such delightful memories.
And I'm saying goodbye for a while, but will still visit. Peace!
Yes!! My mom was truly embarrassed when she first moved here and asked if anyone in the office had a rubber (ahem, that is, eraser).
It's AWESOME when our kids translate for us. =)
Ahhhh! That made me laugh.
I've actually had that happen to me, only switched around.
While visiting some friends in Scotland with the hubs, I learned very quickly not to say diapers, blinkers, and a few other common American names not used in "polite" society across the pond.
Great book if you haven't read it yet (I just love that I recognize a lot of your book list on the left-hand sidebar!): The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson.
AWESOME (and quite educational in a very funny way) read. This post reminded me of it.
ML...where were my Go Fasters during my insane days when I was actually running? Those would have been swell!
Erin, I could write a book--a short one--on Embarrassing Moments brought on by language differences. (Beth, you'll snort your coffee reading this, so put it down.) The worst--by FAR--I was 18 and in a "getting to know you" type group setting, freshman year of college and I stated that I liked reading and playing with my cat. Using another word for cat. Stunned silence fell across the room. I almost transferred schools right then and there once some kind soul explained to me that maybe that didn't mean what I thought that it meant in American. Even now...mortified just thinking about it.
And that comment RIGHT THERE is the reason I'll never stop visiting people's blogs.
I nearly peed my pants I laughed so hard.
Natalie, I'll have to find that one! Fortunately my husband has known me long enough that he's fairly used to my euphemisms. And the abundance of tea in the cupboard.
Dear Meadowlark,
While I am thrilled to provide ample and griping reading material, please do not sue me for your cleaning bill. Thanks.
All the best,
Dori
Although I was born in America, my dad was in the Air Force and my family was moved to England to the base in Feltwell from the time I was about 5 months old until I was nearly 8. Moving back to the US, and trying to go to school with my little accent & speaking the Queen's English, I had trouble making myself understood. I was probably 10 before I realized that "lorry" wasn't a truck in America. :)
Thank you for coveting my tea corral! Lovely to know that you are a fellow tea enthusiast! I got it free from the Republic of Tea, because I buy SO MUCH TEA from them...
So funny!
That's lovely (just catching up!)
I think we have your rain here now :(
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