Howdy
In America, I learned to like
stew. In Russia we have a
similar soup that is called BORSCH. It
has one critical ingredient: beets that make the soup red.
Like my friend Mitch said recently
after visiting California, “It was nice to feel myself a minority for a
change!” But it is still a little different in the Midwest.
“Howdy,” Barbara greeted me with a
smile. I smiled back just in case. I traveled all over North East, East Coast
and South, but never heard the word. Luckily, I knew that the best way to
survive in a different culture is to observe gestures and faces before
reacting. After several “howdys” I guessed that nobody tried to hurt me or send
me somewhere, it simply meant, “Hi” or “Hello”.
“I’ve heard through the grapevine…,”
Barbara leaned over my shoulder and whispered. In situations like this the main
thing is not to panic but to continue listening until you get it. Barbara got
closer.
“I’ve heard that our cook is stealing
food.”
What a relief! The “Aha!” moment came
before I began exploring the idea of attempting to listen through the
“grapevine.” When you learn a new language you take everything literally. My
exchange with Barbara is what we call gossiping! Russians or Americans - we all
like to gossip. That was a “no-brainer!”
“Get out of Dodge!” I didn’t move
because I do not own a “Dodge”; I drive Honda.
“Get out of Dodge!!!!!” My friend
yelled, so I sunk into my office chair and froze. Then I saw everybody running.
If I see people running, I do not need to be asked twice, I got so scared that
I had not just ran out of the building faster than my friend, but I also jumped
into my Honda and drove away, finding out much later that “Get out of Dodge!”
doesn’t leave you time to observe another culture - this is the time to run!
So, I was right! At the end evacuating
myself? It is all about common sense, not about the accent.
Comments