Fun at the restaurant
It's no secret that Kirstin and I like to eat out. Like, twice a day..........we consider ourselves a one-boat economic stimulus package for whatever island we happen to be in front of. Here in Guadeloupe, it's more fun than in DC. Why ? The people watching is always great (French people are very much into image management), but the best part may be our running commentary. We can speak in a normal voice to each other (even highly critical remarks regarding those around us) and no one is the wiser.
I speak German, although the closest I ever came to fluency was 25 years ago when I spent some extended time there. One thing I learned is that the German you learn in school is rarely the German they use in conversation. English is the same way.........imagine a French person with even college level English trying to figure out what the word "tramp-tastic" means. You get the picture. As long as we speak in idioms or slang, we don't have to be that careful. After a few drinks it becomes just like that Joan Rivers show where she reviews the stars' academy awards clothes. Some recent comments, made just steps away from the intended victim:
"Do you think Ugly Betty knows she has a French twin ?"
"If I was her boyfriend I'd have ordered a double"
"Guess LA Fitness hasn't opened a Provence location yet"
"I think her boyfriend would look cuter in that skirt"
"Typical divorced woman.......perfect hair, perfect nails.......size 22 jeans."
Ha ha ha..........mean ? Yes. Vicious........you bet. But all in good fun, and nobody gets hurt (except that lady who was really from Allentown, PA), but who's counting.
I speak German, although the closest I ever came to fluency was 25 years ago when I spent some extended time there. One thing I learned is that the German you learn in school is rarely the German they use in conversation. English is the same way.........imagine a French person with even college level English trying to figure out what the word "tramp-tastic" means. You get the picture. As long as we speak in idioms or slang, we don't have to be that careful. After a few drinks it becomes just like that Joan Rivers show where she reviews the stars' academy awards clothes. Some recent comments, made just steps away from the intended victim:
"Do you think Ugly Betty knows she has a French twin ?"
"If I was her boyfriend I'd have ordered a double"
"Guess LA Fitness hasn't opened a Provence location yet"
"I think her boyfriend would look cuter in that skirt"
"Typical divorced woman.......perfect hair, perfect nails.......size 22 jeans."
Ha ha ha..........mean ? Yes. Vicious........you bet. But all in good fun, and nobody gets hurt (except that lady who was really from Allentown, PA), but who's counting.