when i wish i understood

i have learned that anyone who tells you they speak any language perfectly is full of crap. I barely speak inglish perfectly, let alone a second language. Having recently left Ecuador, i have decided to mention my two FAVOURITE episodes of misunderstanding...

1) The triple?

I was out at the bar with two of my argentinean friends and as the night was getting late, i was pretty sure i wanted to leave. I told them that i was heading out and they turned to me and said, "no, no! they just announced that there are going to give triples. we will wait for those and then all leave together"

I was not really looking to drink anymore, especially a triple of anything...but i figured if they were going to leave right after the triples then i would just wait for them.

We waited for 10 minutes and then everyone rushed to an area in the bar. I didnt realize what was going on, but then some dude came out and started dancing. Then stripping. (I could expand on this part...but basically there was a stripper...and gross) And then we left.

"Wait...guys? werent you guys getting triples."

I then realized how similar "A triple" sounded like "estripper"

b) Hairy

The awkward moment beforeyou call someone your boyfriend (or your girlfriend, or your partner, or your significant other) is always...well, awkward! When you dont understand what is going on it is even more awkward.

My "boyfriend" was once on the fone with a friend and said "esoy aqui con mi pelada." Silly Ecuadoreans have twenty words for girlfriend, and pelada happens to be one of them.

Pelada literally means pealed, or it is slang for naked, or it means girlfriend.

All i thought was that it meant "pealed" and since he obviously would not be calling me "pealed" (because i am not fruit) i convinced myself that i heard "peluda" which means hairy. So i thought he just called me his hairy girl.

I never really shave my legs and i thought he was referring to that.

We didnt speak for a month after he called me that. eeee....

These were some times when i wish i understood