We’ve been in Vietnam for nearly 3 weeks so far so you’d think we’d have a decent grasp on basic key phrases, especially since we’ve had help along the way from locals to fine tune our pronunciation. Pronunciation really matters here. The same word said w different intonation can have up to 6 different meanings. So it was a little disappointing last night when we learned that instead of saying “thank you” & “fresh beer”, we most likely have been saying “shut up” & “smelly beer”. Perhaps that’s why people have been smiling & laughing at us. Fuck.
amusemusings 
I’m laughing out loud. Did someone kindly tell you what you were really saying? I’m sure they appreciate you trying to speak their language. And I love that ‘basic language’ includes ‘fresh beer’.
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Yes this kind girl I spent the night talking to laughed when I thought I said “fresh beer”, hesitated, then kindly clued me in. I told Amy & she about fell over. And of course “basic language” includes “fresh beer”. Ha
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Hi! I’ve been MIA and am just catching up on your adventures rolling with laughter. Which I needed after a week of the flu ravaging all the kids in the household aside from Siena. Thank goodness she escaped it but it’s hard to keep an active baby happy and away from germs when everyone is sick! Enough of that but had to explain my absence during these amazing travels. More comments to come. Regarding the language, I always had a hard time being able to hear the variations in a one-syllable word. And that the differences are not at all things that are similar so you can make some embarrassing mistakes! Say hi to Amy for me as well. Xoxo
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So sorry to hear the girls were sick but glad Siema avoided it. You’ll have to email me a recent pic as she’s going to be so much bigger vs last time I saw her.
The language thing is funny. You’re right about the one syllable words and the differences are so very subtle that it was impossible to further explain in the post. Always an adventure.
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This reminds me of the time I told my Spanish ‘sister’ I shit a lot, instead of snacked a lot. Communication mishaps make the best stories!
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Love it G. You’re hysterical. I concentrated extra hard on my “thank you’s” today & I think it went okay.
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