19 September 2010 - After a long discussion over the mexican spice with a new friend, I end up at dominoes for my dinner . With the 200% intention of flaunting my new learning, I tell my friends – “Do you guys know exactly what is jalapino actually pronounced as!” They give me the "how many times will correct us" look telling me that I have been telling that j is silent for ages now.
I put my hat and glares on and with a smug expression and tell them, No it’s actually " hah- la - PEN -yo". And before I realize the course of discussion and what those amused facial expressions mean, I am standing in front of the order counter and this time not only to order my favorite dip but also try my new found discovery. With all style and elan I tell him
“One garlic bread with "hah-la- PEN - yo" dip . “
Blank expression.
Repeat::” One garlic bread with "hah-la- PEN - yo" dip . “
“Maam I am sorry, but we don’t have that.”
I go back one step with a sigh: “Garlic bread with a-la-peno dip . Please note my friend standing next to me has already started giggling and gurgling.”
Now he shows me the menu and tells me as a matter of fact "Maam we have only two dips - cheesy dip and jalap-π-no dip “
And then I finally remove my hat and glares and tell him with a look of disappointment: "Ok give me garlic bread with jalap-π-no dip, I will manage."
And before I realize me and my friends are bursting with laughter and it becomes the story of my day! But leaves wondering between” adopting purist, correct or authentic” and “adapting to localized pronunciations, habits and tastes”.
