In the late 1960\u2019s, we were working in Nicosia on the island of Cyprus for a week or so. We stayed in a very nice hotel \u2014 the staff seemed extremely nice and the service was excellent. After we\u2019d been there a couple of days, we were joined by another employee of our company to help install some equipment. I\u2019d picked him up at the airport and on the way to the hotel he made a couple of remarks about having to travel to all these third-world countries. Cyprus was by no means a third-world country in my mind and I didn\u2019t think anything more about it.<\/p>\n
The next morning we went to the dining room for breakfast and Ron (the new guy\u2019s name) came in a few minutes after the rest of us. We had a carafe of coffee on the table and I poured him a cup\u2026 turned out his cup emptied the carafe. When he finished his coffee, he asked if I\u2019d like another cup. I said I would and he called the waiter over.<\/p>\n
(I\u2019m going to interrupt the story here, for an informational message\u2026 the official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. English is very widely spoken everywhere by locals of all ages. This is probably because of previous British rule\u2026) Now back to the story.<\/p>\n
When the waiter came over, Ron pointed at his coffee cup and grunted, and grunted, and pointed and grunted. The waiter had a puzzled look on his face and looked at me and said, in perfect English, \u201cwhat does he want? Another cup of coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n
I guess sometimes, the phrase \u201cugly American\u201d really is appropriate\u2026.
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the late 1960\u2019s, we were working in Nicosia on the island of Cyprus for a week or so. We stayed in a very nice hotel \u2014 the staff seemed extremely nice and the service was excellent. After we\u2019d been … Continue reading