I think I could have used a crash course in local speak when I moved to southwest Ohio last year. There are certain phrases that simply stumped me.
Finding the grocery store that's "a fair piece up the road," for instance. Try plugging those directions into Map Quest.
It wasn't just a language barrier. Berlitz should think about tweaking their cross cultural training program to include regional US behaviors. Maybe offer Berlitz for Localisms. It might explain some Cincinnati-isms to me. Goetta, flying pigs, Cincinnati style chili--it's served on spaghetti, for gosh sakes!
The Berlitz sign covers #201 on the theme list, Not Your Mother Tongue.
You would have difficulty in Australia too, for our country folk just down the road can take two hours at 60 miles an hour, and I thought Berlitz made organs or such
ReplyDeleteHow funny. If you're an Ohioan you can tell where in Ohio someone is from by the way they talk.
ReplyDeleteEntertaining story to go with the image - I enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteI was born in Georgia and lived in Tennessee most of my life but I still get confused when I go back to visit because of some of the localisms. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea for this theme! I love your story of learning the lingo! (by the way, we always had Chili Mac when I was a kid - chili served over macaroni)
ReplyDeleteIt is a great idea for the theme but even though I've heard of chili with spagetti what's 'goetta' ?
ReplyDeleteGoetta is a local bit of nastiness comprised of ground up meat (traditionally leftover pieces and parts, but it has--supposedly--been refined to a modern day choice selection), spices and pin oats. The pin oats element is somehow critical to the concoction.
ReplyDeleteI did learn that a Cincinnati company, Glier's, makes some 1,000,000 pounds of the stuff annually and 99% of it is consumed locally here in the tri-state. Talk about being a regional taste!
I may have to find a theme category for goetta so I can post a picture. Is "Icky" one of our themes?
Contrary to Lorri's post vis a vis, Goetta, which in fact is nectar of the gods, I must stand in defense of this glorious culinary creation. Unfortunately, some critics of this delightful repast were raised in somewhat backward circumastances and found Jimmy Dean Whole Hog sausage to be the breakfast of champions. Some people simply have no taste, what more can one say?
ReplyDeleteYour stunted taste buds reveal your identity! For all of goetta's supposed local popularity (an annual 990,000 pounds of popularity), I know of only one person who actually claims to have eaten and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you eat chili on top of spaghetti and like tartar sauce on your Frisch's Big Boys too?
You've got me foaming at the mouth now! Bridgtown Road is the place to buy all those goodies!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how this theme would be taken..great idea
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