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[limr17]

Still a question that shouldn't be asked. Ever. Even if there is a baby visibly crowning...
It's a recipe for an awkward moment.
Just saying.

When I was in grad school, I did a lot of tutoring. One of my students was a Japanese business man and we focused a lot on how to navigate social situations - which phrases can be used and when.

The department was throwing a baby shower for one of my fellow grad students, and my tutoring session was at the same time on another floor. I decided to give him a real life test of some of the language we'd been practicing. All the tutoring was arranged by the department, so I thought it was okay to bring him to a department event.

Before we went in, I stressed to him several times, quite emphatically, to NOT say "Congratulations" to any woman there until I told him who was actually pregnant. I explained why and he seemed to understand.

We walked in and were greeted by another woman who was NOT pregnant. The first words out of his mouth to her? "Congratulations!" Of course, he was super embarrassed to have made the exact mistake that I told him not to do. But I'll bet you money that he never made that mistake again!

The funny thing was MY "mistake" that I made. I didn't realize what that mistake was until one of my professors told me that she glad I flouted traditional gender restrictions and brought a man to a baby shower. Truth be told, that thought hadn't even entered my brain! It never occurred to me that a department function would exclude the men simply because it's a baby shower. So I probably would have flouted those "rules" anyway, but in this case, it was totally unintentional.

 

[Stradawhovious]

When I was in grad school, I did a lot of tutoring. One of my students was a Japanese business man and we focused a lot on how to navigate social situations - which phrases can be used and when.

NICE!

I had another friend who was pregnant with twins. She weighs maybe 100# soaking wet, so she was very obviously COMICALLY pregnant.

Every time we were out in public every 5 minutes someone would stop and ask her "When is the baby due?"...

Because she is AWESOME her response would always be to yell "I'M NOT PREGNANT. WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP ASKING ME THAT??!!" Then she would put her head in her arms and sob uncontrollably until the person left. She was a champ af fake crying. It was epic.

The best part (other than the fact that she was in fact VERY pregnant) is that the people wouldn't leave for a few minutes. They would spend several uncomfortable moments trying in vain to apologize while my friend sobbed uncontrollably and the rest of us glared at the mark with scorned disapproval until they sulked away like a kicked puppy.


That whole group is gong to hell as a result, but it was worth it.

Another favorite past time of hers whilst pregnant was screaming "WHY THE **** DO YOU THINK IT'S OK TO TOUCH A STRANGER" Every time someone tried to touch her belly in public. Which was often.

I haven't seen her in years. I miss her humor.

 

[Gary A.]

Back.

 

[Gary A.]

When I lived in Japan, I rarely, extremely rarely saw a pregnant person in public.

 

[snowbear101]

I don't have anything to compare; I generally avoid pregnant women.

The closest I can get is when I was going through EMT class a million years ago. We got to the part of the course on OB/Child birth. One of the guys from my station had his head down on the desk, sound asleep. The instructor motioned towards him - "Somebody want to wake Billy up, he might want to see this. It will be on the test."

Another station mate answered "It's OK. He delivered twins last night."

 

[Gary A.]

Once I noticed the scarcity of public pregnancy ... it sorta become very odd.

 

[limr17]

NICE!

I had another friend who was pregnant with twins. She weighs maybe 100# soaking wet, so she was very obviously COMICALLY pregnant.

Every time we were out in public every 5 minutes someone would stop and ask her "When is the baby due?"...

Because she is AWESOME her response would always be to yell "I'M NOT PREGNANT. WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP ASKING ME THAT??!!" Then she would put her head in her arms and sob uncontrollably until the person left. She was a champ af fake crying. It was epic.

The best part (other than the fact that she was in fact VERY pregnant) is that the people wouldn't leave for a few minutes. They would spend several uncomfortable moments trying in vain to apologize while my friend sobbed uncontrollably and the rest of us glared at the mark with scorned disapproval until they sulked away like a kicked puppy.


That whole group is gong to hell as a result, but it was worth it.

Another favorite past time of hers whilst pregnant was screaming "WHY THE **** DO YOU THINK IT'S OK TO TOUCH A STRANGER" Every time someone tried to touch her belly in public. Which was often.

I haven't seen her in years. I miss her humor.

Love that!

I would have been a very belligerent pregnant woman.

 

[snowbear101]

Sneaking up on # 11800

 

[sm4him]

Still a question that shouldn't be asked. Ever. Even if there is a baby visibly crowning...
It's a recipe for an awkward moment.
Just saying.

When I was in grad school, I did a lot of tutoring. One of my students was a Japanese business man and we focused a lot on how to navigate social situations - which phrases can be used and when.

The department was throwing a baby shower for one of my fellow grad students, and my tutoring session was at the same time on another floor. I decided to give him a real life test of some of the language we'd been practicing. All the tutoring was arranged by the department, so I thought it was okay to bring him to a department event.

Before we went in, I stressed to him several times, quite emphatically, to NOT say "Congratulations" to any woman there until I told him who was actually pregnant. I explained why and he seemed to understand.

We walked in and were greeted by another woman who was NOT pregnant. The first words out of his mouth to her? "Congratulations!" Of course, he was super embarrassed to have made the exact mistake that I told him not to do. But I'll bet you money that he never made that mistake again!

The funny thing was MY "mistake" that I made. I didn't realize what that mistake was until one of my professors told me that she glad I flouted traditional gender restrictions and brought a man to a baby shower. Truth be told, that thought hadn't even entered my brain! It never occurred to me that a department function would exclude the men simply because it's a baby shower. So I probably would have flouted those "rules" anyway, but in this case, it was totally unintentional.

I'd forgotten this story--I *think* I have the words right here, but Lenny, you'll have to tell me if I get it mixed up. One of my teachers in high school became a good friend and mentor. One day, she was telling me about having been a foreign exchange student. She went to Brazil to live with a family for about a year. She was a young woman, college-age and single, no boyfriend.

She'd worked pretty hard on her Portuguese skills so she could communicate. The family she'd be staying with actually spoke both Portuguese and Spanish pretty fluently, so she tried to learn at least a little of each of them.

At one of the first dinners with her host family, she did something that was considered a social no-no (I don't remember what it was, but it was just a small little thing, no big deal). She apologized…and told them she was embarrassed that she'd done that.

At least, she THOUGHT she did. But instead of using "embaracado," the Portuguese word for embarrassed, she used "embarazada," the Spanish word for "pregnant."

There was quite a stunned silence that followed before someone figured it out.

 

[snowbear101]

Love that!

I would have been a very belligerent pregnant woman.

I can hear the conversation in the delivery room now: "YOU DID THIS! DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

 

[sm4him]

Okay, I cannot find the picture I'm looking for ANYwhere. I know it was still on my phone as of last week, but now it's eluding me.

It was a sign I saw at the grocery store sometime last winter, I think.

It was on one of the freezer units, and it said, "The breaded chicken has moved to aisle 8." (or somewhere, I don't remember).

All I could think was, "if that breaded chicken is moving on its own, I want no part of it!!"

I suspect it in fact had *been moved* to aisle 8 rather than getting there under its own power.

 

[limr17]

<snip>

At least, she THOUGHT she did. But instead of using "embaracado," the Portuguese word for embarrassed, she used "embarazada," the Spanish word for "pregnant."

There was quite a stunned silence that followed before someone figured it out.

Yeah, the Spanish word sounds like the English word "embarrassed" but means "pregnant." It's one of those oh-so-amusing false friends

In Portuguese, "embarrassed" is "envergonhado/a" and the word "gravida" is generally used for "pregnant" so it's a less common mistake than it is in Spanish

 

[Stradawhovious]

Love that!

I would have been a very belligerent pregnant woman.

I can hear the conversation in the delivery room now: "YOU DID THIS! DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

I remember a few months after my Girlfriend's kid was born I used to follow behind her about 20 feet while we were shopping, and every time the kid would make a fuss I'd yell "LADY. COME ON. WOULD YOU SHUT YOUR DAMNED KID UP??"

That made for some pretty hilarious people watching. People would confront me about it and get all pissy... She would try to explain that I was her boyfriend and was just joking around, and I'd reply "What the hell are you talking about? I've never seen you before in my life."


We aren't together anymore for some reason.

 

[astroNikon]

Okay, I cannot find the picture I'm looking for ANYwhere. I know it was still on my phone as of last week, but now it's eluding me.

It was a sign I saw at the grocery store sometime last winter, I think.

It was on one of the freezer units, and it said, "The breaded chicken has moved to aisle 8." (or somewhere, I don't remember).

All I could think was, "if that breaded chicken is moving on its own, I want no part of it!!"

I suspect it in fact had *been moved* to aisle 8 rather than getting there under its own power.

Ebola chicken

 

[limr17]

I can hear the conversation in the grocery store, shouting at total strangers just to mess with them: "YOU DID THIS! DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

FIFY.