What She Said

I was out shopping today with my friend. When am I not out shopping is probably what my husband is saying at this moment. I will take the fifth at the question if I buy anything each time though. Today was fun, but in one store the sales girl had no idea what we were saying. Granted we were speaking English to each other so she could not follow that conversation. However, when we tried Portuguese she had no clue either.

In an informal research study we figured that since I do not look Brazilian, my Portuguese is not understood as well. We (my friend and I) have figured that the sales clerks take one look and say "She is not Brazilian and therefore does not speak Portuguese." Then when I do speak they are not prepared for it and do not follow the conversation. I admit, my Portuguese is not great. However, I am understood in about 90% of the situations, so OBVIOUSLY the problem lies with whom I am speaking. On the other hand my friend looks Portuguese, but is not, speaks less than I do, and is understood in about 99% of the situations. Go figure.

In our research we have found that when shopping together sales clerks look at us and ask my friend all the questions. If she does not understand the question she would look at me and ask "What did she say?" I would translate, she would respond, and I would translate to the sales clerk the response. (Outside of today, this does not happen much anymore since she has learned more Portuguese.) But, it's quite fun actually. The conversation would go like this:

1. Question
2. My friend looking at me "What'd she say?"
3. I translate
4. Friend's response
5. I translate

Now the smarter clerks figured it out pretty quick to ask me the questions. The others not so much. There are times when it is "What'd she say? What'd she say? What'd she say?"

Lately the fun part is when I talk to the clerks in Portuguese and they cue to my friend with a look that says "What'd she say?" Then my friend would say the exact same thing and be understood. And I just want to say "Yeah, what she said!" But I don't know how to say that in Portuguese.

I have a dream. A dream that one day blondes and brunettes can go shopping together and be understood...