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Saturday, July 26th, 2003
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11:55p - Transcript of my last 18 minutes
*walks down 152nd street, not really listening to various conversations that go on on the street on Saturday night*
*enters Santiago Deli, gets cranberry juice, takes it to the counter*
Khalid (Yemeni guy who runs Santiago Deli) to me: Layla sa'ida! (Good evening!)
(to new worker) "He speaks Arabic
(to me again) "talk to him in Arabic."
Me (to new guy): kayf al-hal? (how are you?)
New guy: al-hamdu lillah, kayf al-hal? (praise be to God, how are you?)
Me: al-hamdu lillah (praise be to God)
(to Khalid) khams wa-ishreen lika (25 cents for you)
Khalid: limadha (why?)
Me: min laylat al-khamis (from Thursday [when he spotted me part of my purchase]
(to both): ma'a salama (bye)
*crosses 152nd street and walks down Broadway to Chinese takeout*
Me: Beef curry and a shrimp egg roll
Chinese takeout guy: One?
Me: Yes
*Mexican guy comes in*
Mexican guy: arroz blanco, por favor (white rice, please)
*Chinese takeout guy looks puzzled but eventually gets it.* He speaks Spanish, but is used to Dominican accents.
"Ahhh, arro blanco"
Me (to Mexican guy): entiendo (I understand)
I had thought about trying to say "he would like white rice" in Mandarin, but that didn't seem my place, and the guy probably doesn't know Mandarin... might have understood though. Anyway...
*walks back up Broadway and 152nd street to building*
Neighbor (in 50's): "Hey, what's happenin'"
Me: "Not much. Got some Chinese food."
Neighbor: "Ain't nothin' wrong with that, g. Take care."
Me: "You too"
*goes up to apartment*
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