Translated…
My friend, Yoshida from Japan had been living here for six months now, he was very proactive in learning Chinese, and whenever he heard something, or read something he couldn’t understand, he’d ask and ask, until he finally understood it. And on top of that, he’d practice using Chinese a lot in his daily routines, but, he’d just taken up Chinese, and so, there were, so many moments which he’d managed to, embarrassed himself too.
ordering food now…
Once, I was out to lunch with him, but as we arrived at the shop, he’d told me he wasn’t that hungry, that he just wanted to, watch me eat. And after my pork chops were served to me, he was, attracted by the aromas, and said he’d wanted a portion too. Like how I’d told from before, he was, very studious, asked me how he should order what I have.
“How, do I order?”, Yoshida asked me. “Just tell the server, ‘I’ll have what he’s having’, that’ll be it.” As I chewed on my pork chop, I’d answered him. Yoshida said what I’d taught him, and, a short while later, came the serving of pork chops, he’d had nothing but good things to say about the foods, and asked me to come again tomorrow.
not my photo still…
The very next day, I’d gone to that same lunch shop, and, Yoshida was already there. As I was about to order, Yoshida stopped me, and, patted himself on the chest, showing me that he’ll order for us both. I looked at how confident he appeared, knew, that he was, about to, show off the Chinese he’d learned.
He’d cleared his throat, articulated, loudly, “I want two of ‘what he’s having’, dine in!”
Seeing how confused the waiter looked, and how Yoshida looked, so proud, I’d burst out, in laughter.
Dearest Yoshida, I think, you must, have mistaken what I’d said.
So, this, is something that’s happened, in one’s everyday living, and, this happens, especially when someone is just, learning a new language, the person felt the need to practice that new language, so s/he can become, more articulate, but, because the foreigner hadn’t gotten a hang of how the language is used locally, that, is why this sort of things can happen…
Life, the Obstacle Course 