It was almost noon in Hong Kong and the noodle parlors were opening along Nathan Street. I was getting hungry and suggested to my wife that we have lunch. "With your lack of Chinese language?" she said. "We'll starve!!" Despite her lack of enthusiasm we went in and sat down.
No English anywhere. Menus, wall postings, etc - all in Chinese. The waiter came over and I said, "Do you speak English?"
He indicated with his finger tips "just a little".
I looked around and a waiter had just come from the kitchen and placed a steaming bowl of food in front of a patron on the other side of the restaurant. It looked great!
I said "Bring me what he ordered".
He did exactly that. Our waiter went to the other table, grabbed the bowl and brought it to me.
At first, the other patron scowled angrily, then as he saw our reaction he understood what had happened and laughed loudly and our embarrassed waiter joined in the giggling.
We got it all straight and departed after lunch leaving new friends behind.
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