Spelling
These past few days i have been a lot on the net and on the phone calling/ordering stuff for the States.
Caroline and I booked a flight to Chicago for Abigails and Joels wedding and that was basically the only thing that went right.
The hotel i tried to book in Abigails place was full and the one that had vacancies had bad reviews.
So i tried to book one in Merillville, the place where they have their reception and i swear from the dozen that were shown on the net, i apparently booked the only that was barely in Merillville and more important, in some sort of ghetto neighborhood!
Had 5 (FIVE) good reviews AND it was called the Country Inn.
I mean, how is one to know?
Allright then, got that one cancelled and Abigail booked a hotel very near their place. Hoorah!
Then i tried to order something from their wedding list.
When i got to filling in the order form my zipcode and dayphone were not accepted, so i called the store.
And that is where i get to my point.
Spelling.
In Dutch i know almost instantly the names you say for letters.
Meaning Isaac for an I, or Marie for M.
In English though, it is a lot more difficult for me.
Our I is pronounced as ee and in english as why.
Your e is ovbiously an ee but in dutch an a.
Your a is in dutch an e.
Yes.
My name is Ineke Pompen
I am pretty confident about spelling my first name but when someone repeats it fast, i am left in a blur with all the "whys" and "ees"
What proved to be worse is that i don't know the Names for the letters.
See, this lady wanted to know if Pompen was with an M or an N.
First a M from Mary and then a N from...
All I could think of was Negro.
Really.
No ofcourse i didn't say it, but i was frantically thinking what is it then?
Come on now, what starts with an N?
The women on the other end must think i am a total nuthead.
Nuthead!
No i can't say that one either.
An N, give me an N !!
New? she said.
Why didn't i think of that?
Abigail, should you receive a package in a couple of days from Robbert and Eenika Ponpem, I tried.
And failed miserably.
posted by Ineke at 12:16 PM
4 Comments:
Ineke you do make me laugh!!!
Why on earth didnt you think of Nutella?
3:38 PM
Well, she also made me spell The Netherlands, so i am afraid i wasn't talking to the brightest employee of Bed Bath and Beyond anyway.
9:50 AM
Hi Ineke,
You once said you were funnier in Dutch, but i think you're pretty bloody funny in English too.
When are you and Caroline going to Chicago...the family i'm staying with lived there for five years before coming to Sydney -which is where i am now.
I've been meaning to write for ages, but always got sidetracked.
The kids are growing and growing, Timo esp. is going to be so tall.
I saw your photos from Easter with all the cousins -everyone is so grown up.
My sister is having a baby in June with her boyfriend. I'm very excited to be an aunty.
I was at Art school last year, took some time off from studying to see more of Australasia.
I'm living in a very flash part of Sydney, with a lovely Dutch family[I know you've had contact with them] who have two boys -actually the same ages as Morten and Timo were when i looked after them. the kids are bilingual -so that helps me alot understanding them.
I hope your all well. Hi to everyone. Enjoy the trip to Abigail and Joel's wedding.
-Myf
5:34 AM
Hey Myf,
I've been meaning to ask you where you ended up (i've been talking to the Dutch woman but also to an American one I think)so good to hear from you!!
Yes, there all growing up fast. Timo and Morten are of the same height and the way caroline is going, i think we'll have 3 equally tall children in 2 yrs.
And you becoming an aunt.
Wow.Big chances.
Will you be updating your blog a bit more now *grin/wink*? wo we can follow your australian adventures?
Hope you enjoy your new family, say hoi to the kids from me (do you still speak/understand some Dutch?)!
12:11 PM
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