English As She Is Not Meant to Be Spoken

Overcoming the language barrier is a daily challenge here. To cite just one example, I give you a conversation I had this morning with our driver, Khun Akkachai, as he drove me to work after being off yesterday for a public holiday in Thailand:

Me: "So, Khun Akkachai, did you enjoy your day off with your family?"

Akkachai: "Yes, mister. My daughter, she about take activity in the water."

(long pause by me... staring blankly out the window, baffled)


Me: "Ah! She went swimming?"

Akkachai: "Yes, mister. Thank you."