Lost in Translation.... Absolutely TRUE!

Dyre Straits · Nov 11, 2005, 06:17 AM

(This is an absolutely true experience by yours truly.)

I have a good friend that I met over a year ago. He's from a Latin Country and I'll use the name, Amigo, to identify him. (I don't want to embarass him should he ever come by this way.)

Anyway, I've become his adopted English teacher. Having taken English throughout college, I'm pretty good at it.

Amigo and I met a little over a week ago after work at a local restaurant to catch up on things and I mentioned that there was a brand new Super Wal-Mart that had just opened a couple of days before just around the corner.

So, after we finished eating, we decided to go take a trip through the store.

We made it to the Entertainment Department and I mentioned to him about my experiences playing 'Morrowind'. He asked me, "Would playing this game help me with my English?"

I hadn't thought about it that way, but, very quickly realized it would be an excellent game to help him with his English and grammar.

He decided to buy the jewel case version for $9.84 and took it home and installed it.

Well, the next day I got an email from him:

"Hey, partner," he wrote. "I'm stuck in the game. I don't know how to get around or what to do. Can you help me?"

I wrote back, "Before you get too far, you need to patch the game. I have the patch for it and can put it on a CD and bring it over. If we can get together, I'll show you the ropes."

After a couple of days, he wrote back: "My wife and I look forward to you coming over soon. We want to see your ropes."

Well, I was very busy for the next couple of days and didn't get back with him right away. So, another couple of days later he wrote: "Hey, partner, I've been trying to play this game, but I don't see any ropes."

So, we finally got together the other night. As I walked in, I told him, "Amigo, there are no ropes in the game. It's a phrase we use to say that we will show you the basics of something."

"Ahhhhh," he started, "NOW I understand."

We all had a good laugh and I'll have to be a little more explicit when I use one of our colloquial phrases from now on.

EDIT: BTW, for anyone NOT familiar with English, the phrase, 'show you the ropes,' is a nautical term. It refers to a newcomer on board a sailing vessel who would have to be shown the proper ropes on the ship and their specific function.

Drakon · Nov 11, 2005, 06:44 AM

Poor fellow... Glad you all found it funny

Judas · Nov 11, 2005, 01:06 PM

greenhorn..?

***Zardon*** · Nov 11, 2005, 01:08 PM

Ah before I started reading this I thought you went to the far east and met a hot young american lady and started a romance, guess ive an active imagination.

Geminiwave · Nov 11, 2005, 01:19 PM

well I certainly had an active imagination when it go to the part about "After a couple of days, he wrote back: "My wife and I look forward to you coming over soon. We want to see your ropes." "

THAT was like "is this going where I think its going?!!?" but then it did a 180 and went clean again. ahahhaha.

***Zardon*** · Nov 11, 2005, 01:28 PM

anyone seen the film "lost in translation"? brilliant show.

niceguyrichy · Nov 11, 2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

anyone seen the film "lost in translation"? brilliant show.

I thought it was a good film, but I watched it when it came out on the basis of the reviews I'd read, and I was expecting it to be, well, funny.

and it wasn't particularly.

not that I was disappointed with it or anything. it was just on the way home from the pictures my fiancee and I kinda had a moment where we looked at each other and said 'wasn't it meant to be a comedy of some sort?'.

back on topic, I thought you were being a bit of a dirty ole man dyre

but having worked with dozens upon dozens of foreigners with no english at all, I know only too well the problems dialect can cause.

riles9262 · Nov 11, 2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

anyone seen the film "lost in translation"? brilliant show.

yep, got the dvd, and it's great. I love the part where that chick was clinging onto him in his room, saying he 'rip her stocking'...of course, her being japanese makes it hard for him to understand. lol I always get a kick out of that. /offtopic

That was a cute story dyre, you should take him out sailing

I remember 'learning the ropes' from my old man...they do a lot more than they appear once you start working with them.

Dyre Straits · Nov 12, 2005, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riles9262

yep, got the dvd, and it's great. I love the part where that chick was clinging onto him in his room, saying he 'rip her stocking'...of course, her being japanese makes it hard for him to understand. lol I always get a kick out of that. /offtopic

That was a cute story dyre, you should take him out sailing

I remember 'learning the ropes' from my old man...they do a lot more than they appear once you start working with them.

If you recall my 'raft fishing episode' you'll understand why I'd rather not go sailing.

EDIT: Oh, and if you DON'T recall the 'raft fishing episode' here's the link:

Dyre's Raft Fishing Experience - Repost

riles9262 · Nov 12, 2005, 05:02 PM

Great story dyre

The look on his face must have been priceless when he seen the spines on that fish flying straight at him. That story was similar to some of our experiences on the coast with dog fist and rock cod. It's all you can do to get your lure back cause you're so damned scared of being stung. The bastards hurt when they get you too!