My Life in Translation: “Countdown in Belgium”
I love trains and train stations. I love looking at the metal work in the ceiling and feeling the crisp air coming in from outside. I love looking up at the departure time board hanging above our heads. And there is nothing quite like the hustle-bustle of a European train station where you get on a train and an hour and a half later you’re in another country, in another language where you can have laughable moments ‘lost in translation.’
It’s like nothing else.
Now, I was living and working in Paris for a glorious year, and my job sent me to Brussels, Belgium for a quick stint in their ancillary office since I was fluent in both French and English.
Ok, now back to the train:
In French when you want to say “ninety”, you say four-twenty-ten. and 99 is four-twenty-ten-nine. for 11-16 there’s a compound word like ….teen in English, but for 17-19 you say 10-7, 10-8, 10-9.
(Still with me?)
HOWEVER!!!!!! In Belgium they say “nenante” or something, which is of course extremely logical. but they still say 4-20 for 80. (Confusing!?!?! Oui.)
So when I asked which train to take and they told me to take the nenante, i had absolutely no idea what on earth they were saying. I didn’t know if it was a number, or another form of transportation, or if it meant to go in the complete opposite direction, or to put my shoe on my head or heaven knows what. I was so utterly confused. Plus, they have a funny accent. So then everyone in line starting chiming in to figure out the mystery of this tourist who clearly speaks French but who can’t understand what’s going on. And they just kept repeating the word over and over and over without explaining what it was. And shouldn’t they know it’s a Belgian word, and maybe they should say 4-20-10 and it would be completely obvious? Non, non.
Now, I was living and working in Paris for a glorious year, and my job sent me to Brussels, Belgium for a quick stint in their ancillary office since I was fluent in both French and English.
Ok, now back to the train:
In French when you want to say “ninety”, you say four-twenty-ten. and 99 is four-twenty-ten-nine. for 11-16 there’s a compound word like ….teen in English, but for 17-19 you say 10-7, 10-8, 10-9.
(Still with me?)
HOWEVER!!!!!! In Belgium they say “nenante” or something, which is of course extremely logical. but they still say 4-20 for 80. (Confusing!?!?! Oui.)
So when I asked which train to take and they told me to take the nenante, i had absolutely no idea what on earth they were saying. I didn’t know if it was a number, or another form of transportation, or if it meant to go in the complete opposite direction, or to put my shoe on my head or heaven knows what. I was so utterly confused. Plus, they have a funny accent. So then everyone in line starting chiming in to figure out the mystery of this tourist who clearly speaks French but who can’t understand what’s going on. And they just kept repeating the word over and over and over without explaining what it was. And shouldn’t they know it’s a Belgian word, and maybe they should say 4-20-10 and it would be completely obvious? Non, non.
Instead, one woman starting talking to me in Dutch, and then they asked if I was French and I said I’m American but I speak French and Madame I am so sorry but what are you saying makes no sense and blah blah blah.
You guys, it was hilarious.
Someone finally shed light on the situation, and I was a happy girl. 5 minutes went by and the Dutch woman told me that I really should take the metro because it’s much faster whereas the 90 goes all around the city instead of in a straight line. As it turns out i should have taken the 55, or something. but i took the metro and it worked and i arrived at work on time.
Fin.
Someone finally shed light on the situation, and I was a happy girl. 5 minutes went by and the Dutch woman told me that I really should take the metro because it’s much faster whereas the 90 goes all around the city instead of in a straight line. As it turns out i should have taken the 55, or something. but i took the metro and it worked and i arrived at work on time.
Fin.
— Michellabella
How many of us have found ourselves visiting or even living in a country where we can barely speak the language? Sure, while It’s an adventure to navigate new cultural terrain without being able to communicate the way you would ordinarily in your homeland, it is certainly not without its challenges.
Babylon wants to know how you cope when you are floundering around in a foreign language. Please share your experience with us at sarah@pravdam.com so we can post your story here as part of our newMy Life in Translation series.
Babylon wants to know how you cope when you are floundering around in a foreign language. Please share your experience with us at sarah@pravdam.com so we can post your story here as part of our newMy Life in Translation series.
