Lost in Translation

 

Last Friday my lovely, sweet friend Juri from Japan, pictured above, said she had a question to ask me. She looked very serious. She wanted to know what three 'X's' in a row means and why me, and other Brits, tend to sign off emails with that 'word' instead of our names. I explained they were kisses. She let out a big satisfactory sigh. She liked the idea that a letter of the alphabet can express a kiss. She explained that she had been so confused she had looked up the word in an English Dictionary. We agreed that what she needed was a cultural dictionary.

Now there's an idea!

 

'Gordon Bennett' (British exclamation): used to describe great surprise or anger. No, we don't know him personally, he is not our friend. We just say his name randomly when something shocks us.

 

'Rubber' (Britsh noun): Americans, don't take offence. In Britain it means an eraser. It's probably best to avoid asking your American colleagues if they have one you can borrow (Yes, you know who you are!!)

 

'Solicitor' (noun): Surprisingly shares the same meaning in Britain and USA - A stranger who tries to obtain money from you when you would prefer not to give it. Yes, it is ironic to see a Lawyers office with a door sign saying 'No Solicitors Allowed' but in all honesty it is more than likely  true.

 

'A Vegetable Valet' (American noun): Brits, it is actually a person based at the city's farmers market who looks after your perishable purchases in a refrigerator whilst you finish your shopping - genius!

 

'Bloody' (attributive): Americans, it's just a naughty word that I think derives from a group of 17th century British aristocrats. It doesn't literally mean that something is soaked in blood. If we occasionally step out of line and refer to our children with this word there is no need to dial 911.

 

And to the man at the car insurance company who spoke to me after I crashed Dans car last March, please don't laugh at teary British girls who call up and tell you that they have just 'bumped into a lorry and damaged their boot and bonnet'. It does actually translate if you replace the key words with 'truck', 'trunk' and 'hood'!

Recently, the only way my friend Lucy and I could convince Dan to book a camping trip was to change its translation slightly. 'Glamping' is the glamorous equivalent of camping. Totally taken in by the wonders of a bed side lamp and electric blanket, Dan eagerly drove us down to Pescadero earlier this month for a weekend of relaxation. We stayed at Costanoa, a camping and hotel resort along Highway 1, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We were fortunate that on one night the fog didn't roll in and we got to witness thousands of stars in the sky, which was breathtaking and complimented the fire pit and Pinot Noir a treat! 

We have received Tom's bill for his hospital visit this summer. The bill covered a three day rehydration and totaled $25,000 (I hear a crescendo of Gordon Bennetts!) We pay high monthly premiums for our health insurance, we still have to pay each time we visit a doctor, hospital or dentist, and we will have to pay a contribution towards this bill. There is nothing to be lost in this translation - I am deeply ashamed to live in a country that can justify $1.75 trillion being spent on a defense budget but that allows 25% of its senior citizens to go bankrupt because of high medical expenses. I read that 16% of Americans do not have health insurance. Why does one of the richest nations in the developed world have one of the highest infant mortality rates? Can you imagine having to weigh up whether you can afford to call an ambulance, or have chemotherapy, or spend an extra night in hospital? You simply cannot afford to get sick here. Now sanitize your hands, and give three big cheers to the British NHS!

Annie has started Kindergarten. Only ten days in and we have noticed a far more grown up young lady in residence!

First day

Running fearlessly into class

We are thrilled that Annie got the teacher we all liked the most. The school buzzes with PTA activity, volunteer opportunities, creative in-class and out of school projects and so far Annie loves it!! Next month she has her School Photo Day, but I was alarmed to see a second date highlighted as the 'Make-up Photo Day'. Rather perturbed by images of Californian pagent wannabes, I asked the class teacher if eye shadow and lipstick was really involved? She calmly assured me that it meant a second opportunity to 'make up' having your school photograph taken. Oops. I also saw advertised a 'Spirit Day' and with some alarm asked what it was all about. Again, the translation seemed to have been lost on me as it is a day dedicated to getting into the 'spirit' of the school by dressing in the school colors for the day. Purple it is then! Excellent.

It has taken us almost two years but we finally invited our British friends here, Cat and Rich and their son Arthur over for Sunday Lunch. We enjoyed roast beef, yorkshires, roast spuds and parsnips. All washed down with more Pinot Noir and discussions about fitness. 

Arthur, ready to carve

Cat is a regular marathon runner, and is exceptionally fit but doesn't think she is as flexible as she could be. I run, but not as far or frequently as Cat, but especially enjoy keeping fit with yoga. So we agreed to swap sports! She agreed to come to one of my yoga classes, and I will do a trail run with her through a forest. Damn you, Pinot Noir!

 

Cat getting bendy

I think Cat translates 'flexible' differently from me. She has impressive stamina  and is very strong! She made it to the 6am class full of enthusiasm and kept up with the rest of us throughout, despite it being her first class, and an advanced one at that! Now the pressure is on for me to run like the wind through redwood trees!

 

You know, I can't really imagine a world with a cultural dictionary! It would take all the fun out of our life here. I quite enjoy getting it wrong, it's brilliant that we are still here learning, and it was beautiful to get some 'kisses' from Juri in a recent email from her.  

Here's to getting completely lost in translation! 

XXX