My Chinese is so lame. When I speak with people in person, I can make myself understood with facial expressions, gestures, pantomimes, and little drawings. However, I just tried placing a phone order for a twenty-liter bottle of water to be delivered to my apartment. I think I may have accidentally ordered home delivery of twenty dessicated goat carcasses.
UPDATE: After three days of no water and no goat carcasses, I determined that the fault was less with my bad Chinese than my failure to dial the right number. This morning I called the correct office and had water (not goats) delivered thirty minutes later.
Here’s hoping you get water! Keep us posted 🙂
🙂
James,
I laughed hysterically for a couple minutes immediately after reading this.
Making little drawings is brilliant. I think I will write that down as a travel tip.
Drawings do help. I always carry a little notebook and a pen. But more broadly, I’ve found that if you are willing to be patient and to laugh at yourself, you can usually make yourself understood even if you and the person you’re trying to communicate with don’t share a common language. Laughter is key.