The funniest time we caused confusion with our 'British English' was
when we told a national park ranger that we would not be cold because we
had jumpers in the van. The ranger burst out laughing, a slightly inappropriate
reaction we felt. She went on to explain that a jumper means a pinafore that
schoolchildren wear, and she was imagining me in one. Kinky!
Even when we did not have communication problems with restaurant staff
things did not always go smoothly. For example in an IHOP (International
House of Pancakes) I ordered the 'eat all you want popcorn shrimp' meal
deal. After two basketsful I was stuffed and so when the waitress returned
Emma ordered a waffle to share and I kept quiet. The waffle arrived and
Emma started on her half, and then more shrimp arrived. I looked in horror at
the massive portion and began to speak, but then my stomach got the better
of me and as the server started to say 'didn’t you want that?' I quickly said 'no,
no, that's fine' and tucked in. And then managed my half of the waffle.
Growing up with seven brothers and two sisters I still struggle to turn away
food.
Even when we did get what we ordered things were not always that great.
Picture the scene. It is late morning, we are in a theme park on a sunny day
and we go to a small diner for an egg and bacon sandwich. The food comes
in fast food style boxes; we open them and pause in shock. The egg is green,
not a fleck of mould, but completely green. Our next move? We smothered it
in ketchup and ate it. Well, I will be honest it was the Green Eggs and Ham'
cafe in Dr. Seuss-land, Universal Studios!