A hot day for two South Korean back-packers
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342110)
Rockingham, Australia
April 5, 2017 8:53am CST
A discussion the other day about difficulties using a second language reminded me of the time Vince picked up two female South Korean hitch-hikers in Western Australia. They were walking from a bus-stop to their lodgings in a nearby town. It was almost dark and Vince gave them a lecture about hitching rides but they had little option in this particular case.
To cut a long story short, they came out for a meal. The 29-year-old wore her national dress. It was like a two-man tent. She had a little bag and hat to complement her outfit. We asked why she brought it to Australia but it seems her Mum packed it when she wasn't looking.
She had a very good vocabulary but her 19-year-old companion had a much better grasp of English colloquialisms. It was one of our hottest days and she must have been very uncomfortable in her regalia.
We made some remark about the temperature and she said 'Yes, it is f**king hot today. F**king hot.' We must have looked a bit stunned because she looked from one to the other of us and went on 'What is wrong? Did I not say that right? F**king hot? That is correct isn't it? When it is very hot, it is f**king hot?' Her poor companion was looking most embarrassed and we didn't quite know what to say.
It turns out that the boss's son (they'd been working in an orchard, picking fruit) had taught her the phrase and assured her that that was what she should say when it was hot. So I'm not the only gullible person around having believed @WorDazza's story about Norman Einstein.
27 people like this
28 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
5 Apr 17
she look like a lady mayoress - nice outfit but rather impractical
7 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
8 Apr 17
@JudyEv looks like a graduation gown
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Apr 17
@arthurchappell It does doesn't it? 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 17
I didn't think that was possible. He's always picking up strange young ladies - and sometimes even men - and once we picked up a guy, his partner and a mad dog - but I'm sure I've told you this. When we dropped them off eventually, he called Vince an f**king angel. I've called him something similar myself once or twice. 16 hours between comments. I must have gone to bed early or something.
3 people like this
@manasamanu (3746)
• Bangalore, India
5 Apr 17
That's a pretty good photo, the woman looks nice in that outfit. It must have been very hard for her in that dress in that **** hot as she said. Hahaha that vocabulary is something you wouldn't have expected, right.
4 people like this
@allknowing (137764)
• India
6 Apr 17
She could be having a bagful of such expressions - ignorance is bliss they say.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Apr 17
such a lovely outfit and a funny story!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
It's lovely, isn't it but not very practical for an Australian summer.
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
5 Apr 17
Awww someone may have played a silly prank on her by teaching her that.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
6 Apr 17
@JudyEv If it was done with malicious intent or to humiliate her then no it wasn't nice at all.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Apr 17
The boss's son must have thought that hilarious.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
It was very funny. We couldn't believe our ears for a minute or two.
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
11 Apr 17
Lol! .. that reminds me of some of the phrases I learned when I first arrived here in Australia 34 years ago ..
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
5 Apr 17
That was really kind of you and Vince to take them in for a meal. I hope they got where they were going. I like both of their outfits - and you look fantastic! Funny story - I overheard an American lady who was out and about with 2 Korean men - the one of them was pointing, gesturing with his middle finger raised... his friend had to tell him that in America that is considered impolite... oh dear... lol
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 17
They were staying in 'our' town. Later our friends had a barbecue for them and six others and it was a lovely evening. They all loved Sumi Jo, the opera singer. And the middle finger bit - it can be hard to learn what's okay and what isn't. In Thailand you shouldn't sit (on the floor) with your feet towards someone - which makes it difficult if you're not very good at sitting cross-legged.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
12 Apr 17
@JudyEv Oh that's interesting, too. THe bottom of the feet thing could be challenging if you weren't used to it
1 person likes this
@ichchhe_mrityu (1144)
• Bangalore, India
6 Apr 17
This is very funny... You reminded me a funny instance which happened when I was in Japan.. I taught a bad Hindi word to one of my Japanese colleague.. and told him to tell the same to another India guy.. He told the same to him.. now the Indian guy started abusing in Hindi to that Japanese guy who understood nothing
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342110)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 17
@ichchhe_mrityu There are all sorts of traps isn't there? Even in your native tongue. I try not to be quick to react if I think someone is being rude or whatever. I check first to see if they meant to be rude - and if they did, I punch them on the nose. (That's a joke, Sambit) 
1 person likes this
@ichchhe_mrityu (1144)
• Bangalore, India
7 Apr 17
@JudyEv ha ha ha... but it happens like that..
Even some misunderstanding happened here as well... One of my Filipino colleague taught me one word.. he told that word is some slang.... I forgot the meaning after so many years..
Here one of my friends said that word while having conversation in PM.. So I thought it's something bad and that friend is abusing me..So we had a misunderstanding... but it is actually not that bad word what I understood... It might be like some words which are used normally in their culture...
1 person likes this
