Culture Shock 2

Shock 1: As I opened my bathroom window (for the aforementioned reason) my ears were greeted by a rooster in the distance. Let's just say that's not something you hear every day in American suburbs.

Shock 2: I decided to do some web-surfing. NBD, right?  Well, Hulu greeted me with a lovely message explaining that I could not access outside the US. But I'm smart, you see, so I went directly to the shows' sites. Needless to say, I will never again be able to watch Switched at Birth. Shoot. I'm going to need a new hobby. The jury's still out on Psych...

But here's today's kicker:

Today I was trying to keep a low profile (see, it was my first interaction with strangers. Woooooo!).

Strategy 1) Use the words I know. I can throw in a "Hallo. Guten Morgen." Just as well as anyone else.
Strategy 2) Don't get caught alone. If I always have a legit speaker with me they can always bail me out.
Strategy 3) Keep my mouth shut. Then they can just assume I'm German. I look it just as much as the next girl (in fact, I am German-ish).

So, as you can see, I had it under control. But somehow my cover was blown. I don't know if someone overheard me speaking English or I just had that look--the one that says "I'm an American and don't quite belong here (yet)." Or perhaps "I'm trying really hard to cover it up but the fact that you're addressing me in German and I have to respond likewise is causing all blood and other fluid to drain." But one woman started to introduce herself and stopped mid-sentence and said "Oh. Do you speak German or English." Without thinking I responded in English (mistake number 1), "A little German." (mistake number 2). Her response, "Then I'll just speak English with you." Oh dear. Well we'll get 'em next time.

So basically I need to take all those years of studying acting and put them to better use. I think it's time to adopt a "fake it 'til you make it policy."

I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'