how to speak on the telephone in a foreign country
I’m learning that people’s phone habits vary by country, not just by language. In Russia, for example, I never learned how to say hello fast enough. You call someone, they answer, and before I have a chance to say something, they’re already saying “hello?” again as if they’re afraid they can’t hear me or I’ve been disconnected already.
In Ireland, on the other hand, what’s different from the US is how you end a phone conversation. Not only do people draw out the word “bye” naturally in everyday conversation, but people here have a bit of competition to see who can get in the last “bye”. What you end up with is both people saying “baaaaaaay-baaaay-bay-baaaaay” until someone gives in and hangs up.
It’s funnier if you hear it, I suppose.
April 12th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Hilarious!