Magnolia Tree

A good day.

I was asked my favourite German question on the telephone today. I was asked for my extension number. You might think there's nothing much more to it. Straightforward question, what's the fuss?

Let me share.

Back in 2011 when I worked for another company and had a very limited vocabulary compared to what I have now, I dreaded telephone conversations. People can't see that you're clueless and rattle on at a hundred miles an hour. You chase every word and try to figure out what people have said - not easy. Especially when some people are not quite as patient as they could be...

Anyway, so one day I was working on a projekt at a site when my boss called me on my mobile. We had a bit of chat about stuff and then he asked me for my extension number - "Wie ist Ihre Durchwahl?"

Sadly, that was not the question I heard. I was quite surprised at the question I thought I had been asked but, as it was my boss, I answered honestly and in some detail (as I am wont to do when people ask me questions).

Even more tragically the question I thought I heard was "Wie ist Ihr Durchfall?" which is "How's your diarrhoea?"

I have never forgotten the difference.