This is a true story about me. I feel pretty funny in the today’s standard and would like to share with the friends here.
I came to the US in the mid 80’s. Our old friends may still remember the political and economic situations in China in those years. Before leaving the country, we went through an overseas-going training. Among the materials covered, the trainer told a sad story about an absent minded Chinese professor who was a visiting scholar at a famous US university. One day, this professor went shopping. He found his item and walked toward the front door while his mind was fully occupied by his research project. The next thing was that the security alarm sounded and he was caught for stealing. This professor, already famous in China, could not take the humiliation easily and committed suicide after being released by the police.
Why I have to tell the previous story? Because I do not want you to say “You are stupid” after reading my own story. Have to protect myself, right?
Upon the arrival of the university town, I immediately went to K-Mart for some necessities. However, I could not find anything there within my limited budget ($360 stipend per month) and decided to go on to another store. However, having not gotten used to the American open-shelf style stores, I felt really uncomfortable to walk out the store empty handed. After some mental struggles, I went to one girl casher (I thought I was handsome enough and she should treat me well) and uttered “I didn’t buy anything.”
She stared in my eyes. Afraid of my poor English, I said the same thing again. Her eyes grew even bigger and rounder. My face turned red and thought “Gee, is my English that bad even my TOEFL scored more than 600 points”.
Quickly checked all my words and grammar, I repeated the sentence “I didn’t buy anything.”
After one minute or so (I guess she had finally realized why I acted that way), she smiled and said “I know. Just go.”
My friend, you must have figured out what I did afterwards, right?
I felt it is funny because the significant political, economic and culture differences between US and China at that time made those things possible. Nowdays, the two countries are nearly same. You will be really laughed at if you try the same thing unless you are looking for that pretty girl (now she must be an old lady now).
This is a true story about me. I feel pretty funny in the today’s standard and would like to share with the friends here.
I came to the US in the mid 80’s. Our old friends may still remember the political and economic situations in China in those years. Before leaving the country, we went through an overseas-going training. Among the materials covered, the trainer told a sad story about an absent minded Chinese professor who was a visiting scholar at a famous US university. One day, this professor went shopping. He found his item and walked toward the front door while his mind was fully occupied by his research project. The next thing was that the security alarm sounded and he was caught for stealing. This professor, already famous in China, could not take the humiliation easily and committed suicide after being released by the police.
Why I have to tell the previous story? Because I do not want you to say “You are stupid” after reading my own story. Have to protect myself, right?
Upon the arrival of the university town, I immediately went to K-Mart for some necessities. However, I could not find anything there within my limited budget ($360 stipend per month) and decided to go on to another store. However, having not gotten used to the American open-shelf style stores, I felt really uncomfortable to walk out the store empty handed. After some mental struggles, I went to one girl casher (I thought I was handsome enough and she should treat me well) and uttered “I didn’t buy anything.”
She stared in my eyes. Afraid of my poor English, I said the same thing again. Her eyes grew even bigger and rounder. My face turned red and thought “Gee, is my English that bad even my TOEFL scored more than 600 points”.
Quickly checked all my words and grammar, I repeated the sentence “I didn’t buy anything.”
After one minute or so (I guess she had finally realized why I acted that way), she smiled and said “I know. Just go.”
My friend, you must have figured out what I did afterwards, right?
This could be fun.
in today's standard or in the today's standard.
I felt it is funny because the significant political, economic and culture differences between US and China at that time made those things possible. Nowdays, the two countries are nearly same. You will be really laughed at if you try the same thing unless you are looking for that pretty girl (now she must be an old lady now).
以为“have a good day"呢， 就回了他一句 “you too"
现在想起来都好笑。 我们第一代移民经历这种事不可避免，
那个逮他的商店雇员只是对他说，“希望你再也不干这事”，然后就放了他。这朋友对此感慨万分，他其实是一个品行挺好的人，当初是因为太穷，鬼迷心窍。
他现在是一个铁杆哈美派。
我有好几个在加拿大开杂货店的中国朋友。据说本地的中学生和少数无业游民，偷东西是天天的干。但抓住了只能把偷的东西要回来，既不能抓人，更不能打人。如果报警，一般警察要30分钟才来，基本上在加拿大法律下，对小偷是毫无办法。
去年多伦多的中国店主抓小偷，跑了好几条街逮住了，结果警察来了把店主抓了，把小偷放了。因为偷东西是小罪，绑架人是大罪。