(written yesterday)

One major problem you encounter when you're a filipino living abroad (save the English speaking countries, of course) is the language barrier. Oftentimes, you have to explain and reexplain your point before you and the other person settles into a clearer topic and end up comprehended. i never worried about this for i know i can switch to other words when the one I’m using gives me less and less hope to be understood. Until today....

I resolved going to the bank for two transactions. First is to do a personal business by depositing an amount for someone. The other is to discuss an office glitch which we have just encountered lately. Our problem roots from the payment made by our members abroad. When the member pays in credit card, there is not much worry in the process. However, when the fee is paid in cheque, the bank is charging more. For us who shoulder the bank charges on behalf of the payee, it is quite absurd to have gone on with that option eversince. So, armed with our recent documents, off I went on with my second transaction. Since, I have just received another payment in cheque from Vietnam, I decided it would be best to inquire about the bank charges in that country.

At a bank counter....

The first transaction went smoothly. And so I went on with my second objective.

Me: And for this one, can you check the vietnam bank's charge for this cheque? (And i went on explaining our last glitch). Because the last time we received a payment in check in the amount of 70 dollars from singapore (i showed her the previous cheque), the bank charged 54.75 dollars. Which left us roughly 15 dollars only for our membership. And that's rather funny because the bank charged more than 75 per cent of our membership fee.

The teller was looking at me suspiciously  but she composed her sweetest smile though.

Teller:  but we can't deposit this amount under your name because it says here "Pay to the order of (name of institute)".

Oh boy! What have i gotten myself into. I tried to look around for a possible translator. no one to save me there.  Keep on looking, Ann. Zip. Nada.  So I thought of elucidating my point further. 

Me: Erm.... no. what i was trying to say is that. (I’m obviously trying to bend my English).etc. etc.  You got me?

Teller: ah. I see. I see.

Thank God, she finally got my point... but she went on saying....

Teller: But we can't really deposit the account under your name.  You see, it says here....

Oh great! Napagkamalan pa 'kong manggagancho:) Ang sosyal pa naman ng english ko!

Thus, a 5-minute transaction turned out to be 30 minutes for my further explanation lest I might leave the bank with all those accusing eyes staring at me.