After we got back into Omkoi from our drive down the mountain, we stopped to eat lunch. While we there an older man, perhaps American, but I couldn't be sure was talking to Hans and Beatrice. I said hi to him when he first walked up, but then resumed eating my meal in silence. As I listened I found out his name was Peter and he was apparently in Omkoi with some type of a team that was rennovating a church in Omkoi. The reason that I could not be sure he was American was that his english seemed really awkward--he spoke really slowly and did not seem sure of himself at all. After dicussing all of the buiding that had progressed while we were out of town, Peter said to Hans, "Does your friend know how to speak english?" It was all I could do not to laugh, especially considering that I had been the only native english speaker the whole time we were in the village. Hans winked at me and said, "Yes, she knows a little." Then Peter looked at me, I suppose expecting me to answer the question, so I answered, "A little bit." I said it crystal clear and without any accent at all, but Peter bought it.
Then I told him I was American.
Wow, Jess. Did you find out where Peter was from and why his English seemed forced?
ReplyDeleteYou've been there too long, you probably look Thai now! haha :)
ReplyDeleteD, don't make jokes. This is a very serious condition that often happens when Americans enter the Thai culture for an extended period of time. Jessica, just come home and we'll cure you!
ReplyDeleteSo weird. There was a very strange man who fits Peter's description that you gave in your blog, who was at Baan Tua Lek this morning. He was odd. He asked me if I was French! Ha! I think he heard me talking on the phone in Shan. Anyway, he was weird.
ReplyDelete