Saturday, February 28, 2009

A Language Victory!

This week in class, I learned occupation words: mailman, policeman, electrician, painter, photographer, teacher, doctor, nurse...theif. Theif? That's not much of an occupation. Besides, when in the world am I going to use that word anyway?

Fast forward seven hours...my taxi driver drops me off at my house and tells me how much my toll is. I pay him, and he hands me back my change. When I counted it, I noticed he had given me too much. Though it was only a matter of cents, it was only a matter of sense for me to say something. "Really?" I ask him. He realized his mistake and as he was dolling out my correct change, I told him, "I'm not a theif!"

And you know what happened?

He laughed at me.

But not the kind of laugh I usually get. The kind that says: This crazy foreigner! Are those sounds coming out of her mouth supposed to be words?

No, in my heart of hearts, I'd like to believe it wasn't that kind of mocking laugh but that he actually laughed with me and not at me.

Did I make a joke? Did someone actually understand my joke? Did that someone even laugh at my joke?

I think I did!

And that is a good thing. A very good thing indeed.

7 comments:

MichelleWebb said...

Yay! That's awesome Becky!

Ashley said...

Yay!

Ashley said...

P.S., It's a good thing that culture is starting to know your wit, because now they'll get to appreciate the full Becky!

Angela said...

Way to go Beck! You never know when the most bizarre of word is going to come in handy!

Anonymous said...

I am so very proud!!!

Rachel said...

Yay! So proud of you, Beck! Keep enduring sweet friend. Love you lots!

Rachel

Marcus said...

Way to Go!!! Becky's first Chinese Joke! It made me lol, too!