Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Autopilot

When learning a new language, I stupidly am on autopilot to answer "yes" to every question before I really process what is being asked of me. This is great sometimes bc it gives people the illusion that I can understand them quickly instead of the truth which is I have to search my mental dictionary for words in each sentence. However it got me in annoying trouble yesterday.

I buy Thai Iced tea from this woman around the corner from work and yesterday I asked for some and she said something and I recognized all the words but couldn't attach meaning to them before my autopilot activated and I say "Ka". Just as she started to laugh awkwardly I decoded the sentence and realized that she had said "you are a beautiful lady" and sounding like an arrogant punk I replied "yes". You'd think that would have taught me but then she asked me a question and I knew it was about how I wanted my drink but couldn't remember my taste vocab so again just said "ka" and then she kept talking and said " i know foreigners don't like their tea sweet" so I had agreed to take my tea without sugar. Stupid autopilot!

This means I have to find a new Thai Iced tea woman because not only will this one think I'm arrogant but she will also continue to make me sugarless tea which is just awful.

No comments: