What, you don't serve Zombie's around here?

This post reminds me of that old yarn...'Do you serve crabs here?' to which the waitress answers, 'Oh yes, we serve all kinds of people!' 

During college, I studied abroad in Marburg, Germany to hone my language skills. I went out to a bar/ restaurant with a group of students and ordered a Zombie drink. I pronounced it the American way, "Zombie" but the waitress didn't understand. I said it again, but she wasn't getting it. Then I pointed it out in the menu and she said "Oh, Zsombee" in the German pronunciation. She was really snappy and it infuriated me because the pronunciation is really not that different.

So I retorted, "Ja, ein Zombie (pronouncing it the American way)". She said "Zsombee" again to correct me and so I replied, "Ich moechte ein Zombie. Es ist ein Amerikanisher Getrank und es heisst Zombie. Bitte und Danke." She was furious and walked away, but in the end, did in fact bring me my Zombie drink.

-- Maja S., USA

So much for the customer always being right!

P.s.  What's IN a Zombie anyway??  Maybe you should be sticking to BIER, instead.

 

Comments

[FMaggi]

I had this same situation when I ordered Black Tea - in my best (albeit pathetic) French accent - in Paris.
It happens repeatedly there & in Switzerland, where the waiter just stands there with a puzzled look on his/her face.

C'mon, how far off can TE' NOIR spoken in an American accent be from the real thing???

[Lisa Tucci]

What is it that you finally articulated to her -- in English?