To be honest it is the question I never thought I will ask, but life can be unpredictable.
How did I end up being concerned with this topic? Well, the thing is that I am learning Dutch (Nederlands) language using Duolingo program. Imagine my surprise when going through the daily exercises I was offered to remember the phrase ‘Pardon, ik ben een apple’ (Pardon me, I am an apple).
It must be a very popular phrase in Dutch since I was offered to learn it at the very beginning of my language course!
And then I realized that I never used this phrase speaking Russian or English. Therefore I have a question for Dutch speaking people: What is the right context for saying ‘Pardon me, I am an apple?’
If I am in a bus or in a shop and there is a person who wants to talk to me but I don’t want to talk, is it ok to say ‘Pardon me, I am an apple’?
Maybe it is ok to say it if my boss as asking me a question I don’t know how to answer or shout at me when I did something wrong?
Or if I am being stopped by a police while driving my car?
Or maybe it is an equal replacement of the phrase ‘I don't speak Dutch’?
I will be very grateful if you will share your stories of using this phrase with me!
In the meanwhile I would have to say goodbye – I have a tree I need to hang on for a bit, because it seems like… I am an apple ;)
Three lessons of the serious educational conversations from a parrot