Just a quick photo tonight and a brief public health announcement. I’ll try to write more about Ireland tomorrow.
This is a real sign on our Engineering Building at the university. It reads “This stone was laid by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers.” How’s that for a job title... I’ve also been invited to a reception with the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers. Why is everybody here so worshipful? Who are they worshiping? I’m so confused...
This is an old church building near my office. It’s not used as a church anymore because everyone is worshiping the drapers and the stationers and newspaper makers instead of the one we were created to worship... I still think it’s a beautiful structure, especially at night.
Cheers,
Will
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Important Faux Paux Announcement
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To: All Americans travelling to the United Kingdom
From: An enlightened and humbled American sojourner
Priority: Higher than the swine flu announcements
Subject: The colour Khaki
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Message:
Americans are warned to avoid using the typical pronunciation of the word ‘khaki’ when referring to the tan colour common for trousers and other articles of clothing. Instead, the word ‘khaki’ in the UK should be pronounced “car-key.”
Mispronunciation of this word will cause undue social embarrassment for both speaker and audience, as ‘kaki’ is common slang for pooh (the word evolved from the Romance languages). Thus, referring to your “khaki trousers” or worse yet, your “khaki pants,” or even worse yet, your “two khaki’s in your dresser” is an occasion of immense social awkwardness.
Case zero was reported to have occurred in the city of Sheffield, although the BBC has yet to lie about this claim.
If American travellers are not confident in their brains’ capacity to convert every occasion of ‘khaki’ to ‘car-key,’ then they are urged to suspend all travel to affected areas (the United Kingdom, Australia), or to wear surgical masks that restrict one’s ability to speak.
As always, Her Majesties’ Government urges international travellers in the UK to “Keep calm, and carry on.”
END
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2 comments:
This is a great post, Will! I have tears in my eyes from laughing. There is a similar slang word in Spanish, however, it never reminded me of Khaki - must be the British pronunciation!
Here's to the Faux Paux of the Worshipful English,
Mom
Woewee:
This was very good, but issued May 3rd. Did I miss a more recent post???
Love, Dad F.
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