But this guy does speak Spanish. Fluently. I´ve called myself a blonde, a ginger, a "blinger" and it´s true, I don´t look South American or Spanish. Please, though, think about how stupid you look when you´re speaking to me in one word, forceful tones when I respond to you with a fluid sentence and explanation of what it is I need. Here´s the case:
Valparaíso, Chile, hole-in-the-wall restaurant with an English girl I´ve run into in a couple cities. We´re looking to try the chorrillana, this beauty I showed you earlier.
Here goes the conversation, as translated by moi:
Me: We´d like the chorrillana for two. I´d like a beer and she´d like a wine and a water.
Angry Lady: Wine isn´t part of the deal.
Me: Right, I know, but she´ll pay additionally for the wine and have a bottle of water as part of the deal.
AL: We have Coca Cola, Canada Dry, Fanta, and a lemon soda.
Me: OK, but can she have a bottle of water and the wine?
AL storms off and returns about 15 minutes later with my beer, a little bottle of wine, and a glass of water.
AL: Here´s water. Is this OK?
Me: Ok, I thought maybe she could have a bottle of water and it would count as the drink that comes with the meal?
AL: BE-BI-DA (demonstrating the universal sign of drinking with her hand). Not water. BE-BI-DA (once again with the hand sign).
Me: I understand what a drink is, I just thought maybe a water that comes in a bottle could be that drink you speak of...
AL: BE-BI-DA (hand sign). Not water. Water costs more in a bottle.
Me: OK, no problem, but I do speak Spanish.
AL: HARRUUMPH.
A bit later, once we´re almost done with the meal and have tried for 20 minutes to hail the Angry Lady who seems to be ignoring us...
Me: If another drink comes with the meal, can we have another beer? I´ll have the beer and she´ll have another glass of wine.
AL: Wine doesn´t come with the meal.
Me: I know, so I am going to have the beer that comes with her part of the meal.
AL: OK, beer, yes, I´ll bring it.
Me: Wait! And a wine! If I´m having a beer she´ll have another glass of wine!
AL: ANOTHER!? (Looking at poor Ishbel with the judgiest of judgy eyes)
Me and Ishbel: Yes, another (GLARING BACK).
Not sure what I did to deserve such treatment, but the poor lady... Maybe SHE doesn´t speak Spanish? Must be hard living in Chile, I´d imagine.
Valparaíso, Chile, hole-in-the-wall restaurant with an English girl I´ve run into in a couple cities. We´re looking to try the chorrillana, this beauty I showed you earlier.
Here goes the conversation, as translated by moi:
Me: We´d like the chorrillana for two. I´d like a beer and she´d like a wine and a water.
Angry Lady: Wine isn´t part of the deal.
Me: Right, I know, but she´ll pay additionally for the wine and have a bottle of water as part of the deal.
AL: We have Coca Cola, Canada Dry, Fanta, and a lemon soda.
Me: OK, but can she have a bottle of water and the wine?
AL storms off and returns about 15 minutes later with my beer, a little bottle of wine, and a glass of water.
AL: Here´s water. Is this OK?
Me: Ok, I thought maybe she could have a bottle of water and it would count as the drink that comes with the meal?
AL: BE-BI-DA (demonstrating the universal sign of drinking with her hand). Not water. BE-BI-DA (once again with the hand sign).
Me: I understand what a drink is, I just thought maybe a water that comes in a bottle could be that drink you speak of...
AL: BE-BI-DA (hand sign). Not water. Water costs more in a bottle.
Me: OK, no problem, but I do speak Spanish.
AL: HARRUUMPH.
A bit later, once we´re almost done with the meal and have tried for 20 minutes to hail the Angry Lady who seems to be ignoring us...
Me: If another drink comes with the meal, can we have another beer? I´ll have the beer and she´ll have another glass of wine.
AL: Wine doesn´t come with the meal.
Me: I know, so I am going to have the beer that comes with her part of the meal.
AL: OK, beer, yes, I´ll bring it.
Me: Wait! And a wine! If I´m having a beer she´ll have another glass of wine!
AL: ANOTHER!? (Looking at poor Ishbel with the judgiest of judgy eyes)
Me and Ishbel: Yes, another (GLARING BACK).
Not sure what I did to deserve such treatment, but the poor lady... Maybe SHE doesn´t speak Spanish? Must be hard living in Chile, I´d imagine.
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