I take beginner Chinese lessons from a woman who moved to the U.S. from Beijing about a year ago. In exchange, I teach her English. She's studying for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). So her English is not very good, and my Chinese is basically nonexistent.
Recently, she and her husband bought a new car, and we started talking about license plates. She wanted to know if she could ask for specific numbers or letters. I told her that she could pay extra for "vanity" plates, and could apply for any numbers or letters she wanted, if they weren't already taken.
She then told me that in China, certain numbers are considered "lucky."
"Which numbers?" I asked.
"6 and 9, and 8 also," she replied, "They are very lucky."
"You want to get a license plate with lucky numbers?" I asked.
"Yes."
(You can see where this is going - I had a vision of my friend, a very nice, proper Chinese woman going to the DMV and asking for "69" on a license plate - not a good thought)
"Ummm..."
I'm getting embarassed at the thought of explaining the American pervert concept of "69" to her. Keep in mind, that I'm not comfortable talking about sex with most women, even ones that I know very well, much less this person who I've probably spent 30 hours with since I met her.
I take out a piece of paper and draw "69" on it. Then I say, "Umm...'69' in America has a hidden meaning. It means 'sex'." I turn the piece of paper upside and show her that '69' is still '69' upside down.
"See?" I ask, feeling like dumb@ss.
I get a confused look. I start turning red from embarassment.
"Ok, umm...it means oral sex."
More confused look. She's probably never heard the term before. My face probably looks like a tomato by now.
"Um..it's a sex position."
Blank stare.
"Oh great..." I draw two stick figures on the piece of paper, blushing furiously all the while.
"OH!" She exclaims, as understanding dawns.
We exchange sheepish smiles.
I then go on to explain what the meaning of "To Get Lucky" means in America.
I tell her, "So, um...don't get a license plate with LUCKY '69' on it."
She replies, "Our license plate in China was '696'!"
Recently, she and her husband bought a new car, and we started talking about license plates. She wanted to know if she could ask for specific numbers or letters. I told her that she could pay extra for "vanity" plates, and could apply for any numbers or letters she wanted, if they weren't already taken.
She then told me that in China, certain numbers are considered "lucky."
"Which numbers?" I asked.
"6 and 9, and 8 also," she replied, "They are very lucky."
"You want to get a license plate with lucky numbers?" I asked.
"Yes."
(You can see where this is going - I had a vision of my friend, a very nice, proper Chinese woman going to the DMV and asking for "69" on a license plate - not a good thought)
"Ummm..."
I'm getting embarassed at the thought of explaining the American pervert concept of "69" to her. Keep in mind, that I'm not comfortable talking about sex with most women, even ones that I know very well, much less this person who I've probably spent 30 hours with since I met her.
I take out a piece of paper and draw "69" on it. Then I say, "Umm...'69' in America has a hidden meaning. It means 'sex'." I turn the piece of paper upside and show her that '69' is still '69' upside down.
"See?" I ask, feeling like dumb@ss.
I get a confused look. I start turning red from embarassment.
"Ok, umm...it means oral sex."
More confused look. She's probably never heard the term before. My face probably looks like a tomato by now.
"Um..it's a sex position."
Blank stare.
"Oh great..." I draw two stick figures on the piece of paper, blushing furiously all the while.
"OH!" She exclaims, as understanding dawns.
We exchange sheepish smiles.
I then go on to explain what the meaning of "To Get Lucky" means in America.
I tell her, "So, um...don't get a license plate with LUCKY '69' on it."
She replies, "Our license plate in China was '696'!"
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