A few days ago in Saigon (nobody calls it Ho Chi Minh City), we were on a bus for a day tour, the kind of bus that drives around and picks everyone up at their hotel. The tour guide checked his list, and then:
Tour guide: "Does anyone stay at the Riverside Hotel?"
Tour guide: "Is anyone here from the Riverside Hotel?"
Tour guide: "OK, nobody here is from the Riverside Hotel?"
British woman: "Yes."
Tour guide: "Yes nobody here is from the Riverside Hotel, or yes you’re here from the Riverside Hotel?"
British woman: "Yes."
Tour guide, exasperated: "What hotel are you staying at?"
British woman: "The Riverside Hotel."
Tour guide: "Thank you."
(It’s sad when a Vietnamese tour guide who’s never been outside Southeast Asia speaks your native language better than you.)
Very sad, but sadly doesn’t surprise me.
Yes many people in other countries speak English better than some that have lived here all of their lives. Go to an inner city or out into the country and see if you can even understand half of what the people say out there.
That is so true……….I’ve come across many people that can speak the Queen’s English better than the English. I wish I was one of them! Does anyone know why this happens?
Yvonne
Murder mystery party ideas