Like many, I work with people who live all over the world. In just the last month I've dealt with people in India, China, Israel, and even the wilderness of downtown Vancouver. Saying "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. Can you repeat it?" is a fundamental part of my job.
Of my job. As in I get paid to understand English spoken as a second language. When my work-day is over and I want Chinese food and the money is flowing the other direction, I am far less interested in linguistic wrestling.
Imagine my delight yesterday when I discovered that my local podunk Chinese restaurant allows for web orders. No more yelling slow, over-enunciated English at people on the phone? Sign me up. I placed my order and hopped in the car. Click click click click vroom.
Then my phone rang.
"Hello?"
"alloeezadisJohn?"
Uh-oh.
And so we struggled for five minutes, me impatiently practicing the same strategies I do at work, only now I was paying for the privilege. From what I could tell, he merely wanted to confirm that the order hadn't changed in the 48 seconds since I clicked Submit. It was excruciating.
When I picked up my order, it was obvious from the fish stench wafting out of the bag that he had, in fact, changed my order during that phone call.
"Eezaokay?"
I considered the conversation that would ensue.
"Eeza fine."