Endless Semantics
A quick note over breakfast. This is probably an experience everyone in an international environment has, but lately its been so exhausting that we've actually discussed whether or not it will ever end.
We never stop talking semantics. Specifically about food. To illustrate here is an example of conversations I've had in the last 48hrs.
US1: What did you have for breakfast?
AUS: Porridge and coffee.
US1: Porridge? What's porridge?
US2: She means oatmeal.
AUS: You call it oatmeal?
US1: Yeah, you call it porridge? This is like the biscuits all over again.
AUS: Wait you call biscuits 'cookies' right?
US1: Mostly.
US2: If your biscuits are cookies, what do you call what I'd call a biscuit?
AUS: Scones.
US2: Then what do you call scones?
CAN: What's the difference in a biscuit and a scone?
US2: Hang on. What are biscuits in Australia?
US1: Crackers. Or cookies.
AUS: Aren't crackers and cookies the same?
US1: No. You put cheese on crackers. You don't put cheese on a cookie.
CAN: That's true. But you can eat a cracker without cheese.
US1: Of course you can. Its just a way to define what is or isn't a cracker.
CAN: Oh yeah. That makes sense.
etc etc etc etc
It goes on like that forever. And don't get us started on the different names of fruits and veggies. We have to stop the conversation by conscious choice. Its so much worse if there is a Brit there too. We need charts and pictures to even begin to sort things out. And eventually I have to try and explain what a grit is and that never really works.
My Brain is Tired.
Abby
We never stop talking semantics. Specifically about food. To illustrate here is an example of conversations I've had in the last 48hrs.
US1: What did you have for breakfast?
AUS: Porridge and coffee.
US1: Porridge? What's porridge?
US2: She means oatmeal.
AUS: You call it oatmeal?
US1: Yeah, you call it porridge? This is like the biscuits all over again.
AUS: Wait you call biscuits 'cookies' right?
US1: Mostly.
US2: If your biscuits are cookies, what do you call what I'd call a biscuit?
AUS: Scones.
US2: Then what do you call scones?
CAN: What's the difference in a biscuit and a scone?
US2: Hang on. What are biscuits in Australia?
US1: Crackers. Or cookies.
AUS: Aren't crackers and cookies the same?
US1: No. You put cheese on crackers. You don't put cheese on a cookie.
CAN: That's true. But you can eat a cracker without cheese.
US1: Of course you can. Its just a way to define what is or isn't a cracker.
CAN: Oh yeah. That makes sense.
etc etc etc etc
It goes on like that forever. And don't get us started on the different names of fruits and veggies. We have to stop the conversation by conscious choice. Its so much worse if there is a Brit there too. We need charts and pictures to even begin to sort things out. And eventually I have to try and explain what a grit is and that never really works.
My Brain is Tired.
Abby
posted by Abby-Wan Kenobi at 7:15 PM
2 Comments:
This is why I gave you the tourist picture book -- just point and don't call it anything!
Dude that happens everywhere. I can't even tell you how many arguments I got into in college about whether it's a drinking fountain or a bubbler... I suppose it would be worse in an international setting, though.
Post a Comment
<< Home