Lost In Fast Food Translation

(Photo uploaded by Michael Galero on Flickr.)

Communication is a skill that is essential and must be developed through practice.

Children can be vicious critics when it comes to judging one's manner of

speaking. That is why, during their adolescent period, many individuals develop

the fear of being teased for their pronunciation of certain words. This fear can

continue to be a hindrance as children reach adulthood, because adults can be

just as callous as children. Most likely, everyone has had an incident in which

he or she has regretted making a comment. Even though it may have

been embarrassing, sometimes one cannot help but reflect on what happened

and laugh. Instead of remembering an incident as humiliating, think of it as an

experience to laugh about with family and friends.

(Photo uploaded by final_station on Flickr.)

For instance, one afternoon a family was driving home from a prior engagement. Since the event lasted longer than expected, all of them were hungry during the trip home. The parents decided to stop at a fast food restaurant, so their children would not have to wait to eat dinner. In order not to divert much time from their trip, the family agreed to go through the drive-thru. The only concern was that the husband was driving. Since he was not a native speaker, he was afraid to communicate with others. He did not like being teased -- especially by his two young daughters -- about the way he would pronounce certain words in English. Therefore, his wife told him not to worry. She would order the food once they arrived at the restaurant, but the man told his wife no. He wanted to try it on his own. As they approached the Jack In The Box menu, his wife and two daughters told him what they wanted. Then it was time to face the dreaded speaker where he would utter the food orders. And yet, with a smile on his face, he confidently said each order with perfect pronunciation. His family was impressed. He was proud of himself for being able to say each item they wanted from the menu with no hesitation. The only problem was that once he was done, the next thing they heard from the speaker was: "Hello, may I take your order".

All This Work For One Little Dessert

  With the current economic crisis, it is very expensive to spend time away from home. Gas prices continue to rise, decent restaurants are becoming costly, and stores are closing their doors. What can one do in an era when people do not like to read? Watch a movie! Although renting a video is becoming more of a preference, going to the movie theater is still a popular pastime for many individuals. Most likely, our attention is focused on the film or the actors we are about to see. But the most fascinating and sometimes funny moments about a movie are the audience. I am sure we have all had an embarrassing moment or at least one funny experience at the movie theater. Sometimes these occurrences are even better than the movie. 

    One common example is sneaking food and beverages into the theater. Even though one could save money during matinee hours, the outrageous prices at the food stand make it difficult for people to enjoy a tasty snack during the film. No matter what the reason may be, the fear of being caught can create a funny experience. For instance, three friends decided to go to the movies one afternoon. After eating lunch close to the theater, they bought a tapioca drink to sneak into the movie. As they were walking to theater, one of them was able to inconspicuously hide his drink under his jacket. However, the other two instinctively put the straw through the cap and started drinking their beverage. They had forgotten that the last time they went to the movies they saw an employee catch someone sneaking in a soda. The person was not allowed in until they threw away the can. Therefore, the two who were drinking their tapioca drink began to panic. The three friends ended up standing outside for a few minutes trying to come up with a plan. As a result, one decided to place his drink inside his jacket pocket, which caused him to hunch over and walk very slow. The other individual decided to try and keep it out of sight as they walked inside huddled together. If anyone was watching the three friends as they strategically walked into the theater, they would have been laughing. Luckily, the three of them were able to walk by the person taking tickets. However, after all that work there was a problem. The straws that were provided for the drinks were too thin. So during the whole movie they were laughing at each other as they struggled to drink their tapioca beverages.