Cartoon

Thanks to Vahan Bournazian for sending this one...

Conversations with the waiter

I have a feeling there will be no end to the "conversations with the waiter", they are so often memorable here. This one is a submission from a repat that doesn't blog.

Sitting at Square One, one of us orders a hamburger, the other a chicken burger. When the waiter brings out two plates, it's obvious that they are identical.

Me (pointing to friend's plate): Excuse me, what is this?

Waiter: What did you order?

Me: Huh?

Waiter: What?

Me: I want to know what this is that you just brought out?

Waiter: Then tell me what you ordered.

Me (still pointing to friend's plate): Why do you need to know what I ordered before you tell me what this is?

Waiter: Well, how am I supposed to know what THAT is if you don't tell me WHAT you ordered?

Conversations with the doctor

So after a week of this strange, lingering sore throat, I ventured to the doctor to get it checked. After the inspection process, she told me in Armenian I had an infection and inflammation in my throat. I wanted to figure out if there was a more specific name for what I have.

Me: What is my condition called? Is it perhaps strep throat? (strep throat I said in English)

Dr: I don't know that term, do you speak French?

Me: No, but go ahead and try me.

Dr: But do you speak French?

Me: No, but I might understand.

Dr: You have a good sense of humor. (totally thinking I'm joking)

Me: No, really, say it in French!

Dr: You have an inflamacion.

Me: Ah yes, an inflammation.

I hope some other bloggers will occasionally post some funny conversations they have... sometimes the confusion or misunderstanding can be truly impressive :-)

Conversations over a pizza order

When the idea of going to the Club came up, I was a bit lukewarm, until I remembered their fantastic pizza, which is exactly what I was in the mood for.

Me: I'll have the vegetarian pizza.

Waitress: We don't have pizza today.

Me: Why not?

Waitress: It's Sunday, we don't have pizza on Sundays.

Me: Why? What happens on Sundays?

Waitress: The pizza chef has to have a day of rest too.

Me: But, can't anyone else make a pizza????

Waitress: No.

I settled for a pretty greasy Su Boreg which was too small and a very good Armenian Salad, but it just wasn't the same, nor was it all that satisfying.

Letter to the Anti-Defamation League

This is my letter to the ADL, which I submitted at the URL below. It is not meant for copy/pasting, simply sharing what I wrote. If you'd like to write to them too, use this address (and keep it to 1,000 characters or less). http://www.adl.org/contact_us.asp

I have been following the controversy over the Armenian Genocide within your organization, and I read the ad you are about to publish. Shame on you! At every step along the way you have chosen the wrong course, and continue to insist upon it. There are some things which are morally wrong, and for you, as Jews, to minimize the crime that the Armenians suffered, well as fellow genocide victims it's disgusting.

If anybody neglected to call your Shoah a Holocaust, and simply called it a tragedy, or events, as a matter of policy, you would be up in arms, and rightfully so. Your hypocritical stance on this issue has long been noted by the Armenian community, and it is fantastic that now, widespread coverage is showing many others that your organization MUST change its position on this matter, or accept that it has no role in any type of moral leadership.

No Place For Hate indeed. Genocide denial is hateful, believe it or not, even if we're not talking about Jews.

Amot tsezi,
Raffi

Conversations (toast to the priest)

I've been wanting for a while to regularly blog funny exchanges I hear here. Finally I'm starting, and hopefully it will be regular.

Sunday evening, while attending the post baptismal reception, the Tamada had the following exchange with the American-Armenian priest while toasting him, as the priest sat next to his own wife:

Tamada: (to the priest)... To you and your wife (pause)

Tamada: You are married right?

DK: Ayo

Tamada: (pause) Is that allowed?

DK: Ayo

Tamada: (longer pause) Is that her next to you?

DK: Ayo

Tamada: Then to you and your wife...