Lost in translation moments.

jacketwatch · August 11, 2018

We have all traveled a fair bit abroad and no doubt some of us have hit a snag or two when it comes to communicating with a foreigner. Heres the one I recall the most.

When in Israel on a cruise we stopped for coffee. I asked for just like I get here a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso. The barista looked at me quizzically and said said "are your sure"? I was adamant. "Yes I want a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso." He said "but sir I never heard of this before." So now I'm peeved and insisted this is what I wanted. OK. We sat down and as soon as he came with our order I knew what happened. He made a cup of sludge, you know Turkish style coffee and added a shot to it. ?. OMG! Well it looked like something scooped out the LaBrea tar pits and I tried to add milk and sugar but folks it was something else. ?. Well after being so adamant I had to just take it. As Emeril would say BAM! ?. As we left he asked me how it was. I had to save face so I said "thanks thats just the way I like it." ?.

Anyone else have such stories?

Jan115 · August 11, 2018

That is a GREAT story, Larry! ? I can’t think of one that amusing at the moment, but maybe one will come to me. It’s kind of like when we Rhode Islanders order coffee milk, coffee ice cream, or anything flavored with coffee, outside the state, the waiter looks at us like we’re aliens from another planet.? Anyone familiar with RI coffee syrup will know what I mean.