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Home ยป Living In Hong Kong ยป Lost in translation: a reader’s story

Lost in translation: a reader’s story

16 March, 2020 by Suzanne Andrews 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/lost-in-translation-a-readers-story-on-expat-life-in-hong-kong/

Thereโ€™s something to be said for getting it wrong without the slightest intention. We call it miscommunication. Thereโ€™s a lot to be said for living in Hong Kong as an expat and never quite getting it right. Nobody shall be blamed โ€“ itโ€™s just an occupational hazard of living in this melting pot of cultures. I know it because Iโ€™ve lived it for seven years.

Getting it wrong

My first instance of getting it wrong came in the form of the โ€œexโ€. At the time, about six years ago, I was running my own fitness classes when a local restaurant owner, Min, mentioned she was keen to join us gals; of course, I invited her along. My โ€œBodyburnโ€ routines, taken outdoors with soothing sea breezes, were a regular event. Min was keen to shake up her yoga for something more gruelling and weight-shedding. My class was exactly that.

I often invite women to my classes. Sometimes they follow through; sometimes they donโ€™t. I know that finding time for an hour of self indulgence in the form of squats, lunges, tricep dips and a good deal of isometric torture in the evening isnโ€™t always easy. It takes a great deal of courage and a distorted sense of objectivity to do this stuff.

Women texting

But back to the โ€œexโ€. I received a text one night and I guess the timing wasnโ€™t great. Iโ€™d just broken up with a man who lived on Lantau Island and flew in the air above Lantau Island a lot. The Christmas wreath on the door of his apartment all year round should have indicated to me his need to celebrate Christmas with many women all year round, but I fell out of that short relationship feeling crushed. Infidelity is a sharp wound.

Then came the text: โ€œI want to have ex with youโ€ โ€“ with the sign-off, โ€œMannyโ€. According to my phone, the text was sent from the restaurant where I regularly order satay chicken. It must have been a chef or waiter whoโ€™d sent it.

Who was this person? How dare he speak to me like that and assume I want a casual liaison? Did I look like a floozy โ€“ the type of woman in need of instant gratification and a text to that affect? I was fuming. And, because I was hurting after having my boyfriend cheat on me, I immediately went on the attack. I replied to the text with: โ€œWho are you? How dare you contact me! And how did you get my number? Do not contact me again or Iโ€™m coming to get an apology from you in public.โ€

Epiphany

It was not until midnight when I was out with friends and sharing this story that I had my epiphany.ย โ€œMannyโ€ย must be the restaurant owner โ€“ who I knew as โ€œMinโ€. And all she was doing was trying to convey her desire to attend my Bodyburn class… Iโ€™d sent her an abusive text after sheโ€™d used โ€œexโ€ in a sentence that Iโ€™d interpreted wrongly, mainly because of the syntax and definitely because of a language barrier. How embarrassing. Like really embarrassing.

The very next day, I went for Eggs Benedict in the restaurant and Min was there, with a smile on her face. I approached her without hesitation and apologised. I donโ€™t think she really knew what I was on about, and sheโ€™ll probably never realise that her perfectly normal request for exercise, signing off with a name I didnโ€™t know she used, made me mistake her for someone asking me for sex. But then, if youโ€™d received a similar text signed off with what could be a manโ€™s name, donโ€™t you think itโ€™d be easy to misinterpret?

Maybe; maybe not. Itโ€™s Hong Kong. Itโ€™s also all about timing and how you see the world from your inner world. Itโ€™s easy to get it wrong without even trying, and especially after a break-up. The moral of the story is: never assume; just never assume!

Tell us a tale and win $1500

Hereโ€™s your chance to get published โ€“ and make some money at the same time. Weโ€™re looking for 500-word written contributions on any funny, poignant, practical or even controversial topic that touches on expat life in Hong Kong. Simply email your stories in a Word document to editor@expatliving.hk and weโ€™ll consider them for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.

Categories: Living Here Living In Hong Kong Tags: Expat expat life Living In Hong Kong

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