Personal Issues

Events of Misunderstandings

by Maria B

Have you ever heard people saying, "English is a very difficult language to learn?"

Probably, because there are so many similar sounding words which might cause a misunderstanding, confusion, embarrassment and sometimes almost unbelievably serious problems. For instance, unexpected events such as the story of a passenger flying to the wrong continent which I raed about in the Reader's Digest.

The passenger's trouble started in the confusion at the Los Angeles airport, when he thought he heard his flight announced. He then showed his ticket and got on thr plane. After a while he realised the plane seemed to be heading west but Oakland, California, was supposed to be north of Los Angeles. As he looked out his window, all he could see was ocean.
" Is this plane going to Oakland?", he asked.
The flight attenent gasped. "No", she said, "we are going to Auckland, New Zealand."

I remember when I first read the article about Auckland and Oakland, I couldn't stop laughing. It actually reminded me of my own misunderstandings which I have experienced a number of times.

One day my daughter stopped at a service station to fill up her car with petrol. She went in to pay with her bankcard. The man at the counter gave her a friendly smile and asked,
"cheque or s------?"
But before he could say his second word, she jumped in and replied, " not Czech, but Slovak."
The man just looked at her and asked, "excuse me?" She repeated, " I mean, you have got it almost right, I am not Czech but Slovak."
Suddenly she realised he wasn't asking her about her nationality at all. They both burst into laughter. Finally, she managed to say, " not cheque but savings, please."

" Do you agree with me that embarrassment as a result of confusion or misunderstanding could happen to anyone?" It could cost you dearly just like the man who confused Auckland and Oakland. Or else it could make you laugh like the case of my daughter at the petrol station.

I want to know your opinion of my story. Contact Maria B at bujzas@hotmail.com