10/12/10
I thought I would tell a story that happened three weeks ago:
So, I was feeling a bit confident after about a week in country and I decided to go to the local store (in Russian it's pronounced magazine). I went in with my appropriate phrases in hand. The plan was to buy my family some coffee since they were out and I had consumed much of it. Coffee in Russian if basically pronounced like coffee so I could at least point at it and say coffee and it would work itself out even if I forgot my phrases.
So, I went in and I walked up to the counter and I asked, in pretty good Russian, if I could have some coffee. The clerk reaches back and gets it for me and tells me how much it was which I sort of understood-sort of didn't and I just handed her a big bill and she gave me what I assumed to be the correct change. In my head, I am riding pretty high at this point. I pretty much rocked this whole exchange and I'm feeling really good now. I take my coffee and I turn to walk away. I raise my coffee can and I say "SOBACKA!" For just a second I think, "Wait...is that right?" And while I'm pondering and looking at the clerk -whose face suddenly becomes puzzled- she kind of half raises her hand and says, "SPASIBA?" At this point I realize my error:
You see, SPASIBA in Russian means THANK YOU. SOBACKA which is what I said means DOG. So, in review, I bought some coffee and then, very politely, I said DOG instead of THANK YOU to the clerk as I walked away. I went from being very confident to feeling like a total moron. My host family found this hilarious and have told every person they know. I have since gotten over my embarrassment and have decided to do the same apparently.
That's all for tonight. Love you guys!
-Danny
