Sometimes you just get thrown for a loop..

[Downunder Kilt]

I speak vietnamese and just last Sunday I went to my usual Pho shop for lunch as I often do and of course kilted. Most of the staff know me and we usually have a chat in vietnamese. As I walked into the shop a new waitress showed me to a table. She then went to get me the obigatory pre meal tea and I saw her pointing and giggling to some of the other staff.

She then came over and asked me my order. In good vietnamese (using northern accents and tones) I ordered my meal. The look on her face was priceless as was the reaction of other staff who were giggling, as they knew what was happening. The waitress just stood there not knowing what was going on. I must explain that when a southern vietnamese person hears northern type vietnamese spoken they sit up as it usually means the person speaking holds an official office. (I learnt most of my vietnamese from the Australian Defence Force School of Languages which teaches the northern way)

One of the other waitresses then came over and explained that I was a regular and that all was fine. I then expained that I was an Australian of scottish descent, who spoke vietnamese and why I spoke it in a northern way.

All was fine and I had a most enjoyable bowl of pho, as usual