It's not all beer and skittles being a foreigner.
I remember when I was registering for the walk on Saturday, the lady at the desk asked my name.
I said it, and spelt it out, as usual.
She look at her papers a moment, and still in the 'L's...she asked me to repeat it.
So I did.
She turned a few pages in order to appear officious & still in command...but then looked at me again and gave a sheepish smile, stammering apologetically, 'I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you again!'
So I repeated my name and the spelling, slowly, deliberately.
"AY...ARR...DEE...EEE...ENNN.
ARDEN."
It felt like the Spelling Bee from Hell.
Anticipating more blankety blanks, I then pointed to the letter A on a board behind her, and she nodded, & turned to the section with the 'A's...& I pointed out my name.
It would appear- or so I was told today- the way we say 'A' sounds to an American like I am saying 'I'.
It's can be a laborious affair- & this, in a country where we supposedly speak the same language!
How the hell do people cope in a country where they do not share a common linguistic bond?
I feel like a prick even talking about this...because it sounds like I am suggesting the woman was thick...which I am not.
& chances are...she may have felt embarrassed too.
(& do you know...it never even OCCURRED to me to show her some form of ID!)
I ALWAYS have my passport, name clearly printed inside!
So in the end...let's face it...
I'm the thick one!