Different Meanings
I pointed to my foreign students that a thumbs up in Thailand means something else, that we are not in speaking terms, or that I am angry at you. When I asked some Thai students how they show the opposite of putting your thumb up, one Thai student pointed to his middle finger and I said, "Ah, ah, not that!"
I asked a student to draw a picture under the letter Z and the picture was a Zucchini. One American boy immediately reacted that the word is inappropriate. I was baffled so I asked if zucchini is a bad word and he said yes. I asked for the meaning and he said," It is something that covers the boobs and down here but the tummy shows, so it's inappropriate!"
I was to read the book, The Carnival and I asked the children if they know the meaning of the word carnival. "Yes, it's something that eats meat!"
The children returned to the classroom and I asked them to wash their hands so I said, "Those who came from art, please wash your hands." "Emm, wash your hands, you came from art class." "No!, I came from America!"
Comments
Madami pa akong kuwento but I cannot recall them, tumatanda na kasi.
While showing the children a bowl of sugar, she asked what it was and they all replied, "Chicken!"
And when another teacher asked what peanut butter is made of, a child raised his hand and said, "Coconuts!"
So, what's the opposite of putting your thumb up? lol