The Dog Speaks Chinese
"Chinese tourists" in my home!
After dropping off my parents and brother at O’Hare this afternoon, it hit me that time always seems to fly when I’m off from work. My family arrived just before the Thanksgiving weekend and it’s been a relaxing and productive time together.
Whenever my techie brother is here, he upgrades all of our computer systems and makes sure my family is in top technical form. He outfitted my daughter in a new system altogether and then declared that she better “operate 25% smarter”!
He’s the reason my parents are so technically savvy. They are never without their laptops and iPhones. In fact, they’re the only senior citizens I know who can teach others about the best apps. Although they communicate best in Chinese.
"I can understand Chinese?"
My mom kept talking to our dog in Chinese and now she insists that he understands. Nutty is happy to play with anyone. He’d likely learn some Swahili just to get a treat.
Both of my children study French. And since my husband and children speak very little Chinese, it’s always a mishmash of two languages whenever my parents visit. My father’s English is pretty good but his hearing is limited. And my mother’s hearing is great but her English is limited. Since her English is better than most people’s Chinese, she’s a good sport when we have fun with her often-amusing broken English.
While listening to classical music in the car, my mother asked “What tiffany this one?” I bet Mozart would understand what she meant. After I brushed my daughter’s hair, she felt it and declared, “Wow, that as soft as soup!” Our favorite is something she uttered while we were visiting them in California. I was about to use one of their laptops when she steered me towards another one and said, “That laptop no juicy.” Mother knows best.
Hi Nancy!
I love the updates on your parents… I remember them from the restaurant. They were so nice and pleasant to be around.
I work with a Chinese woman who also has some amusing things she says… my favorite is when she gets tired and her eyes hurt from staring at her computer screen all day, she says “My eyes are spicy!” I laugh every time she says it.
I am so glad you had a nice visit with your parents and Nelson. Have a wonderful day.
Janice
What a great story! Your parents sound like a lot of fun, and like my kind of people.
My wife (who is Chinese) taught our dog Chinese commands– she even obeyed them when I said them, in my Engrish accent.
It’s good to see your mom and dad again, I remember them from home. As for your language humor, I can sympathize– my inlaws don’t speak much English either. We always muddle through somehow, they are far more patient with their dumb caucasian son-in-law than I deserve.