Engrish In Brazil

Engrish is probably best defined as a humorous look at how foreigners (particularly from Asia) pronounce not only the word "English," but use the language as a whole. [*] It is not gratuitous (generally speaking—and specifically in this case) making fun of others, just noticing the humor in the abuse of the English language.

One of our wedding presents was the "Multiply Function Pot" pictured below. At first sight I thought, "Woah, it is in English!" Then I read the title again and laughed. They were obviously going for "Multiple Function Pot." But then, maybe the functions multiply as one uses it?

After a little research, I found a website that sells these Multiply Function Pots.

The instructions are as entertaining as the product name:

1. Put the stainless filter into container.
2. Put proper tea or coffee into filter.
3. Pour into proper boiling water.
4. Pour the tasty coffee into your cup.

Then the graphic has a note that says: "Take down up-down strew" I am still not sure what that means after looking at it several times. The word "strew" means to scatter—which must mean the strainer, but how does one "take down up-down?"

And the following (all errors [sic]):

Instruction for cleanning:

The filter is made of stainless wire. when it used for a long time, it will be dirty, so pleas take the filter out first when you clean it..But do not clean it with hand. please use sponge or brush to clean it.

Then at the very bottom it says, "Do not put on the fire directly."

This one is straight out of China, which makes me wonder how it ended up here in Teresina-Brazil instead of the USA. That said, it is a nice little teapot.

How Soap Works

What happens when you are two and ask your father (who is a chemistry professor) how soap works?

Find out.

[composed and posted with ecto]

English School Update

Written Tuesday February 24, 2007, 3:15 PM.

Join me as I look at the belly-button of amerInglês.

I would love to just say that the English business is going well, and all that. It is unstable. December was a good month. January was pretty bad, but bearable. And February has been pins and needles. We aren't starving or anything; we have food and are (so far) able to pay the bills.

The problem we ran into (some of this is deduction, and some is information from students) is sort of two pronged: Christmas came, and people had to pay bills in January. And, in late January, or early February is when all the other schools start their year.

While I don't have very many younger students, I have a lot of parents of younger students, who pay for school, books, and other supplies for their children. Some of them also have other things to do in life. One student is also studying for the college entrance exams, and no longer has time to come to class.

Many have complimented me on my teaching ability, so I am not considering that as one of the reasons they are leaving (though one or two may not have liked learning English very well...). The number of students per week has dropped to around 5.

A new class starts next Monday with 12 students (possibly more). That gives me hope, which I need at this point.

Technorati Tags: ameringls, education, english, job, Job, language, languages, Life, Life In Brazil, Living Outside the US, english school, school

Where there's a will...

What do you want said about you when you are gone? One guy in Portugal has had the following said. Humorous article. (Thanks for sending it my way mom.)

“I am sure he just wanted to create confusion by leaving his belongings to strangers. That amused him.”

BBC NEWS | Europe | Where there's a will there's a whim

[composed and posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: confusion, europe, one guy, portugal, mom, humorus, whim, bbc news

Anecdote - Senhor Isadore Irandir - Holy Irony

We have found it useful to use small stories in class to help students read real-life things in English. I found the following (see link) and find it quite humorous, but I am not sure how to handle this theologically. Any help is appreciated:

Anecdote - Senhor Isadore Irandir - Holy Irony

[composed and posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: anecdote, appreciated, irony, Humor

We Just Thought You Should Know...

This image brought to you courtesy of this weblog.

Technorati Tags: funny, person of the year

Weekend!

If you were not aware, it is Friday, which means that the weekend is here. This week I am really excited about that for two reasons.

First, Nádya started a new job this week. Yeah, the last one died because the boss wanted a lot more than she was willing to pay for. Things like not having a desk/workspace of her own were also factors.

So, I am excited because she does not have to work tomorrow, and she has been working all week. I have kinda missed having her around.

The new job is at a urology clinic doing the same things she was doing before (insurance billing). I visited the place once, and it has a fountain in the lobby. That would be unremarkable, but it is of an urchin... well, he is urinating in a pool. I almost laughed out loud when I walked in the door.

Second, school starts in only a couple of weeks, which means that I will have "a job." I am still going about my preparations, and so forth, but I think it will seem more real when I have a few students looking back at me wondering what I will say, and have them do next.

Humor at the Expense of Spammers

Just in case you missed this particular spammer's email address when they hit you...

News From Home

Well, its been a very eventful morning already. When I opened my email, I found out some details about my grandma's heart problems [she is doing okay for now, but will need some sort of medical intervention, it sounds like], as well as some other news from home.

My parents are moving to a new house in Idaho (which I have known for some time, I don't remember mentioning it here, though.), which was a possibility even when I came here in June of this year. --Anyway, there was some news about that.

Then there was this:




I guess that means that Nathan asked Melissa to marry him--and that she said “Yes.”

...Or was it more like “YES!... finally.”

After that comment, I may not live long enough to find out for myself--even with the distance between us.

Technorati Tags: Humor, Living Outside the US, Love, News

Translation Now Available

Remember that post a few weeks ago that was in a different language? If you don't, you can read it here.
If you do, you might want to click on the link anyway, as there is now a translation for it available in the comments.

Thank you Allan!

Technorati Tags: Humor, Life In Brazil, Observations On Life, Our Activities, Our Story

Eu sou Brasileiro (I am a Brazilian)

A few days ago Nádya and I were walking to the nearest bus stop, and as we turned a corner a man looked right at me and said to his companions “Is that Rodrigo? Rodrigo... RODRIGO!”

We just kept walking, but later I asked my wife if she knew about whom he was speaking. Evidently Rodrigo is not only a vendor of french fries around the downtown area, but he is the son of a past mayor. We got a good laugh out of that. (I saw him at the mall later, and we do look similar, I suppose, but we could not be mistaken for brothers or anything.)

I have a number of experiences under my proverbial belt that are similar in circumstance, though not in magnitude. People will ask me questions on the street in Portuguese, and not expect me to reply that I don't understand because I don't know much Portuguese. I have also been told that I look like someone who might be from the south of Brazil, instead of an American.
This is to my advantage. I blend in more on the street, and don't look like a “tourist.” The crime here can be pretty bad at times, and the tourist-types can be easy targets.

It brings a twinge of excitement to think that one can blend in to an entirely different culture and country. I don't claim to know a lot of Portuguese, but I do speak a little, and understand more than some people wish I did sometimes (shhh!).
That does not mean that I do not miss home, though. I am very much looking forward to getting home as soon as we can, but in the meantime, I am fitting in here pretty well.

[Edit—Yes, Phil, you are correct. I had someone look at it to proofread too!! (Title was Eu só Brasileiro)]

Technorati Tags: Our Activities, Our Story, Life In Brazil