Monday, October 7, 2013

LOST IN TRANSLATION

By
Adejoh Idoko Momoh


I do not remember the date, what I do remember is that it was on our way from Orlando to Atlanta. The trip registers fondly not only because it was a 7 hour drive but also because on that trip I had a fight with my sister.
After everyone tired of hearing my hunger complaints, we stopped at a local Wendy's just on the highway to get a burger and a coke. I had gone in, placed and collected my order and returned to the car when my sister in her usual calm demeanor asked why I didn’t ask if any other person wanted to eat. I do not remember if I did ask, what I do remember is that I was so focused on my own hunger that I probably would have forgotten to ask.

'Supreme Chicken burger and a coke please'

I said to the red haired lady behind the counter. I was going to laugh at the very silly looking bright red hat that held her hair up the middle and had the word 'Wendy's' inscribed on it in white, but I decided not to at the thought that she might be rude if I did.
I ordered the most basic item on the menu so I didn’t have to speak a lot of English and have the lady annoyingly say 'excuse me' intermittently in her silly American accent that to me sounded very un-english.

'So, if you’d take a seat over there, your order'd be up in 5 mins'

She pointed to a sitting area splattered with color it looked like a child’s playground. I didn’t sit, I felt like it would be wrong to sit there so I stood.
This is one thing that confused me about Americans: the practice of ordering you to do something and making it sound as though it was merely a suggestion.
As she handed me my order, she finally asked:

'Where are you from?' I would hesitate and she would continue 'I ask cos your accent is so cool'. I would say Nigeria and thank her.

In about a week, I would leave Atlanta and head for Chicago where I would visit the Northern Illinois University to consider graduate school options, I would meet a dark skinned Cameroonian- whom I would first refer to as my African sister and therefore think her easy to relate with. Before I would notice her beauty.
Very sightly both in looks and features: humbly small breasts that would fit perfectly in the palm of my hands, healthy round hips and those kind of legs you only see in catalogs.
In the course of conversation, I would describe Igbo girls as light skinned and pretty. My Cameroonian would say:

'I enjoy listening to you, Momoh'

Her hands holding mine as we stared forward in the realization and discomfort that it was the first time we held hands.

'Here the 'T' is blurred such that it sounds like an 'L'. The 'R' is rolled off your tongue such that it sounds somewhere between an 'R' and a 'W'. If you’re considering graduate school here, you really have to learn to fit in, to sound like us'

I tightened my grip on her palm as though signaling that it was okay to hold hands and she tightened hers too in agreement. I looked at her and felt pity for this green card holding African. Despite being here 10 years, I could see she still tried to fit in. She was trapped between a country that would forever label her foreign and one very rich in culture and hospitality that lost her 10 years ago.


 Adejoh Momoh (momoh.adejoh@gmail.com) can be followed on twitter @adejoh

16 comments:

  1. Very "Sidney sheldon" like I must say.... & you obviously do have something Against the.Americans lol.... Lovely write up.:)

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    1. I have nothing but love for the Americans oh. Thank you for taking out time to read.

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  2. You manage to be sincere,largerly observant,sexual,tough,caught between nostalgia,fear and excitment all at the same time.Makes it a stellar piece.Its rare to come across storytellers who would make to speak as if in the future tense:'I would' and 'she would'.Its either new,or I don't read enough.Good job.

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  3. It's a very interesting way to tell a true story while making it seem fictional. I loved the way you tried to make it sound like it hadn't happened at the same time like it was happening when it had already happened. Future-Present and Past all rolled into one story. Beautiful. I would buy your book if you ever did write one. Though I would have loved to know what happened after you got back into the car with your grub. Also whatever happened between you and the African sister?

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    1. Lol. Thank you so much. I would write a book sometime in the future and I would hold you up to your promise to buy one oh. My African sister? Let me put it like this, she made me happy then, she is still making me happy now.

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  4. My friend Momoh knows I respect his writing, what he doesn't know is how much I admire his story telling pattern. Nice piece bro.

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    1. My brother and friend Sicily, it is from writers like you I am learning skill oh. Thank you.

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  5. Nice piece!!We finally get to know some of your exploits in the States through this simple yet captivating read. Feels like a chapter being yanked out of your novel.We want more snippets :D

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  6. Interesting posting - you have a very nice writing style! :)

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  7. Interesting read,you have learn the trick of writing in a futuristicpast present that usualy make one read the line twice. There is more to you man,cant wait to have you bring it all out.

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  8. A good read. Very discriptive

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    1. Thank you very much. Your magazine helped hone my writing.

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  9. Awesome, hope the cameroonian friend reads and get to understand how her fitted breasts is filling ur imaginations.

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    1. Lol. I do hope that when my Cameroonian reads this, she would know that whatever feelings I have for her are real, worth putting out there.

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