The misadventures of a foreigner

So here's some humor. Being the independent girl I am, I have no problem walking around on my own. If I need something from the store, why do I need to wait for someone who actually speaks Russian to go with me??

So the other day I was walking home by myself and decided I wanted some cheese so I could make a type of sandwich for lunch. I walked in to the market and up to the cheese counter. I wasn't sure I remembered the Russian word for cheese, but that's what your finger is for right? So you can point at the object you can't name!

So I'm at the cheese counter and I see a cheese I bought the other day that looks (and tastes!) just like American cheddar cheese. Yuummm. So I pointed at it and mumbled some word that may or may not have been "cheese" in Russian. The woman behind the counter says, "Ti hochesh maclo?" Which means, "You want maclo?"

I thought to myself, "Hmmm, I thought maclo was the Russian word for butter, and sir (or something like that) was cheese, but I want cheese, not butter. However, she's the lady, she must know what she's talking about and I'm just confused!"

So I nod my head and gesture with my hands how much of the cheese I want. She shakes her head at this crazy foreigner and wraps up my cheese. I proudly pay for my purchases and walk home. Who says you need to be fluent to make your way around? Look who's all independent!

I get home, head held high and begin to make my little sandwiches. I pull out the cheese to cut and very quickly realize that in fact, yes, I HAD bought butter. I was right in thinking that sir was the word for cheese and that the lady behind the counter thought some crazy girl was buying a half pound of butter. Some party I was having!

So, needless to say, I will never again forget the words for cheese or butter. And, also needless to say, we have enough butter in our fridge to last us a long, long, long time.