As Superstar Rajinikanth says, "English is a very funny language". Jalapeno becomes hala'peno and San Jose becomes San ho' se. But do people lack the basic ability to comprehend is my gripe is the question.
During the first few days of stay in US, a brave visit to subway was made by a newbie (friend of mine). Since making your own lunch is not a well known concept in India, the feeling experienced was that of a lost little toddler in the maze of totally unknown, yet curious objects. I, a YAB (yet another newbie), was standing behind the other newbie like a despondent observer, regretting my very decision of going to this place. My friend was asked what bread he wanted, he answered "White" unpertubed. When it came to the cheese, albeit he was irked by constant nagging, he managed to say said "swiss". Who said watching Tom & Jerry is a complete squander of time, MoM? Then came the vegetables part. Since being headstrong was his nature, he never had paid heed to his parental threat and wheedle to try out all the vegetables. He started questioning about the vegetables like a general who is considering appropriate ammunition for his submarine. But alas, our friend knew Jalapeno before which became his source of embarassment. My cautious friend excercised his intellect, accrued from varied sources like, a book on american vegetables, vegetarian food options in US etc, and said "Yeah little more of JALAPENO (J spelt as in Jail ). The guy in subway said "SAY WHAT". He again, unshaken said Jalapeno. Now the retort was a loud "SAY WHAAAT". Losing his patience, he pointed his fingers towards Jalapeno. Immediately the guy in the sub said "Oh! you mean Halapeno". This really put my friend off-balance. He asked how many things here end with "peno". Damn! his face as red as a fresh-cut subway tomato, he sweared to me that he would never visit this unruly(?) place again.
I was standing behind watching the whole episode as a lame duck, next in line to be canned. When the butcher cast his fiery eyes upon me, I parrotted my friend till we reached the vegetable part. There I went offtrack and chose to say "All". The guy replied All?, I said "Yeah all".
Though I do not prefer "spinach leaves" in a sub, I still managed to make the most of my deal. Cool aint it?
Moral : Be it Jalapeno or Halapeno, OR Jose or Hose, Be cool!
