Story time again with Uncle Billy from Texas. We all know that communication is extremely important for a successful REALTOR®.

Communication is tougher when you don’t speak the same language, however. It is difficult enough to communicate when speaking the same language, but as the world shrinks and we have more contact with people who speak different languages, it is becoming increasingly difficult.

Ordering lunch

About 5 years ago, I was in Paris. I quickly discovered having had two years of high school French did not make me fluent in the language. Phrases that I remembered, such as “La crayon est sur la table” (The pencil is on the table), I found to be difficult to work into conversations.

My wife and I went to a small restaurant for lunch. Since she had not had the benefit of high school French, I told her she could relax and let me take care of ordering. Unfortunately, I found that the only thing I could interpret on the menu was “Hamburger du Cheval.” “Hamburger” was rather easy to translate, and I recalled that “cheval” was the French word for “cheese.” So I told her that’s what she should order if she wanted a cheeseburger.

I goofed

When the order came, there was a fried egg atop the burger rather than cheese, but she decided to eat it anyway. About the time she finished the last bite, I suddenly remembered the French word for cheese is “fromage,” and “cheval” unfortunately, is the word for “horse”. I worked up the courage to tell her of my mistake, hoping that she might find it mildly amusing. She didn’t!!!!!

French friends later told us that “hamburger du cheval” is a beef hamburger, with an egg riding on top like a jockey. However, I think she still was convinced that I had caused her to consume a horseburger.