Lost in Translation (Part 1)

As is often the case, I had to repeat myself three times.

“Do you do a hot chai?” I asked again.This time I got a blank look from Dunkin Donut man but luckily for me his colleague understood my accent.“Vanilla Chai?” he asked helpfully.This time he was on the receiving end of the blank look.“You want a Vanilla chai?”“Yes please. “ I said excited without hesitation. They do offer it here then.“Medium?” the first colleague enquired with improved understanding.“Yes please.”The translator then went on to ask if I was from the UK.“I thought so,” he said. “I understood you. Do you follow cricket?”“No.” I replied. I follow football. I can still watch the matches here.”Finally my hot chai arrived and I know what to ask for next time, Vanilla Chai.Now it was a matter of deciding upon which two donuts.Why can’t I ever just buy one?New York                                                                                                                            February 09