You Saw What??

As I said in a previous entry, “Sorry?” is my most used phrase here in Singapore because it’s hard to understand their accent sometimes. Over lunch today, I related two examples of this scenario that had us doubled up in laughter. So now my tummy hurts from too much P.osh brownies, Just Acia ice cream, and laughter.

One scenario happened yesterday over lunch with the treasury team. The locals Desmond and Ewee asked Nidhi what she had shopped for her family. “Did you buy a Malayan?” they asked her. “Yes I did,” she replied. “I can’t believe you actually bought a Malayan!” they responded incredulously. I was thoroughly confused at this point. “What’s a Malayan?” I asked. This earned me a shocked look from them. “You don’t know what a merlion is??” Oh. Right. Merlion. Boy did I feel so stupid.

But the funnier scenario happened a few weeks ago, when I was on my way to the company TGIF event. I encountered my colleague Isaac outside door and the following conversation ensued:

Me: Are you going to the TGIF event?
Isaac: I’ve already been.
Me: Oh. What happened?
Isaac: Food happened.
Me: Who did you see?
Isaac: I saw a few cocks.

At this point, a dozen thoughts raced through my head. Did he actually say that? Him, a guy? Was he gay? Was it appropriate for him to tell me something like that? Why did he see those in a corporate event? What kind of event was that? Did he even go to the right event?

I got a grip on my thoughts and continued the conversation.

Me: You saw what??
Isaac: You’re asking “what“ is a Philcox? Have some respect. He’s been in the company for like 40 years.
Me: Oh. Philcox is a person. Sorry, I don’t know him.

One year is not enough time to get used to their accent. Really. >.<