International Relations

I just, for the first time, used my Chinese skills on the international stage!

I am sitting in my favorite coffee shop/restaurant studying for my midterm tomorrow (ouch). My favorite 服务员 (waitress) comes over and asks me if I can help her speak to two foreigners that have wandered in. They speak no Chinese, and nobody's sign language is doing any good. I go over and very smoothly translate their accented English into two Italian Pizzas and two Heinekens, then invite them to stop standing awkwardly at the chairless bar and sit at a table. Everybody is happy.

My study buddy and I speak briefly with one of them. Turns out they're Iranian. We tell him we're American. He smiles and nods, and returns to his table. Right now I'm flattering myself by thinking that they're here on official business and I have now done my own small part in easing the tensions between our two countries. This, by the way, is one of the reasons I'm into the foreign language business. The tone of international relations changes with administrations: some are friendly to other countries, this one isn't. Learning the language and culture of another country and making friends with its people are a hedge against the whim of powerful men (women don't start wars).

I'm considering not helping them settle the bill until they agree to disband their nuclear weapons program.