I am anti-social. I don't do small talk. So you'll understand why 2 hours of chit chat in Nepali was excruciating.
In the Indian grocery store:
Instructor: Heatherji, look at all the different kinds of food. This store is very different from Giant, isn't it?
Me: Oh yes, what a large variety of food. It is very different from Giant.
Instructor: Look at these vegetables? Do you like green onions?
Me: Of course I like green onions.
At the Indian book store:
Instructor: Look, Heatherji, there are many books about the Hindu religion.
Me: I found a few books about Buddha.
Instructor: Look, here is a Nepali-English dictionary.
Me: How nice. But it is very expensive.
You get the idea. Meaningless small talk in English is annoying. Meaningless small talk in another language is brutal. The best part was trying some Samosa Chaat in a small Indian cafe. Yum!
4 comments:
Sounds like pure torture, well except for the samosas.
Some potential conversation starters for next time:
"Do you sell a Nepali translation of 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking?'"
"I saw a movie with Keanu Reeves playing Buddha and he was all skinny, but then when I go to Benihana my Mai Tai comes in a fat Buddha mug. Please explain."
"Is there a plan to rid Katmandu of the pervasive infestation of hippies leftover from the 60s, or are you just waiting for them to die out?"
Hi there,
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