“There will be someone Some thing made me stop, Just like starbucks coffee.” Ahh I feel inspired, don’t you? And I’m sure Starbucks approved the use of their logo on this mug we bought at a kitchen supply store. 😅
::
Saudi is teeming with tshirts, decor and knickknacks with English phrases that are just a little…off 😂 but they’re amusing and I love them. The English language is esteemed here and people who speak it are very proud of their skills (as they should be) but as a grammar and spelling perfectionist, I’m triggered by so many menu errors, billboard misspellings, and strange tshirt quotes. However, I also appreciate them for the laughs they inspire. 😊
::
Speaking of language, I have caught myself incorporating aspects of Saudi English (and/or Pakistani, Filipino English) into my vocabulary. For example, I call toilet paper and napkins “tissue,” there are “beef burgers” and “chicken burgers,” no “hamburgers.” The Cheesecake Factory is “the Cheesecake” McDonalds is “Mac” and KFC is “Kentucky.” I also call people “dear” way too often now and heart and flower emojis are par for the course, even in professional communication. I say “same same” when I just mean “the same,” and I’ve gotten used to hearing ppl say, “too many” when they mean “so many,” as in, “there are too many women drivers these days.” I started getting defensive until I realized they just meant “there are so many women drivers these days.”
::
Other British English words have worked their way into my lexicon too. When I was first told to sign a sheet for teacher “invigilating”, I tentatively wrote my name not knowing what the word meant but worrying that it sounded an awful lot like a torture technique or something very awkward (I learned quickly that it means “to proctor” an exam).
::
When I talk to friends and family from the US I occasionally have to pause and think if I’m using the correct word in American English or not (sorry Ohio, but pop is officially soda now for me). It has caused me to be more reflective of the language we use, and to be much more tolerant of linguistic differences.
::
I shall leave you with more words of affirmation from my “Starbucks” mug: “Lazy afternoon in June. The sun into the street, starbucks.” ☀️ ☕️
::
Are there any words or phrases you’ve found amusing in your travels or life abroad?
Our Journey through the Land of Midian in Saudi
When I was a child, learning about Moses in Sunday school and watching VeggieTales and The Prince of Egypt, I thought of places like the
