“Ivon! I have pot!”yelled Akemi from the front porch, thus ensuring that now, all of our neighbors assume we are drug dealers. Never mind that the “pot” in question was the cooking pot Ivon had left behind last weekend and was about to forget yet again.
“Should I have said “a pot”?”asked Akemi.
No, actually, “Ivon! I have your pot!” or “Ivon! Don’t forget your pot!” would have been correct – and just as likely to lead anyone within earshot to assume Akemi was reminding Ivon about his marijuana.
So, correct, yes, but misleading. English is funny that way. To me anyway. To Akemi, who is constantly confused by its complex, ever-shifting rules – not so much. Not only does she have to learn HOW to say something, but she also has to learn WHEN to say it.
And, sometimes, she says something that makes sense dramatically AND contextually yet is still…unique. Like this little gem when she realized she had headed out unprepared for the sunny day:
“I forgot my sunglasses. It’s okay. I have charming eyes.”
Charming eyes?
I think it’s a cultural thing. Like when she proudly told me that her university had received a very prestigious award. And what, you may ask, did the school earn an award for? Its celebrated faculty? Its world class economics program? Its accomplishments in research and development? Even better. According to Akemi, her university won the award for Best Cafeteria. And, when I stared blankly back at her, she informed me, in all seriousness: “It’s a very good cafeteria.”
No doubt.
So, yes, it could be a cultural thing. Or sheer kookiness.
Mailbag:
dasndanger writes: “You really don’t read my posts, do you? […] right after I went on my little best theme rant, I added this: (And yes, I know you asked for our favorites, and not ‘The Best’, but I’m feeling a bit frisky this morn and wanted to pick a fight. 
)So, had you fully read my comment it just goes to reason that you would either 1. pick apart one of my selections, or 2. get all defensive and tell me why The Sopranos theme ranked #1 on your list. But you didn’t! Instead, you just said what I had already acknowledged!!”
Answer: I actually do read all the comments before approving. Even yours! 🙂 You said you wanted to pick a fight – which would suggest you wanted me to respond – but the only possible response I could offer is the one I gave you. I couldn’t pick apart your selections because, as you pointed out, the list is based on personal preferences. And, for the record, the addition to your post should have read: “And yes, I know you listed your favourites and not “The Best” as opposed to what you wrote: “And yes, I know you asked for our favourites and not “The Best”” which is confusing and really applies to your list and not mine even though, technically, I never asked for your favorites. Thus, I felt the need to clarify.
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