Language Blunders!

Learning a new language can be quite frustrating.  However, at times it can also be hilarious!  For example, a couple weeks ago, I was counseling one of my prenatal patients about nutrition in pregnancy.  I decided to list some of the foods I had been learning to say in Bangla.  When I got to spinach, the medic and patient looked at me with confused looks on their faces.  Finally the medic said, "Do you really want her to eat more snakes?"

Not only is there confusion between Bangla and English, but also between American English and the British English that the Bengalis are taught in school.  This past week, I was working on handouts as a follow up to a lecture I had given on shoulder dystocias.  I had said to make sure you always have a stool in the room.  However, Bengali's learn that stool means poop.  So, apparently everyone thought I wanted poop in the room in case we had a shoulder dystocia!  That explains a lot of strange looks!

I'm sure I've made many other blunders, but those are the funniest.  And I'm sure there will be many more to come, but it does add a little humor to the day.  My language study is coming along slowly, but steady.  I have a test on June 13th, so I'd appreciate your prayers.  Also please continue to pray for the village midwife training course on June 10th up in the hill tracts.

Nomoshkar!

Here's a picture of me using a step (not stool) to deliver a baby during a c-section: