So I live in Europe, right? And Europe = different countries = different languages. Therefore most packaging in France has more than one language on it.
At the very least, there is French and Flemish/Dutch. Sometimes there's French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, and Greek on a package.
Today I went shopping after I got done teaching, and entered the realm of toys at Leclerc.
I was looking for a small gift for my daughter, who's 9 and a half. She's not a fashion victim, doesn't like Bratz dolls, does not listen to Top 40 (she likes the Levellers and Gnawa Diffusion), so I wasn't sure what I'd find for her in this haven of mainstream culture.
I noticed a Crayola "Secret Message" kit, but decided to check the rest of the shelves for inspiration. There were paint-by-numbers (fuhgeddaboutit), bead kits (been there, done that, am tired of sweeping up beads from the floor), perfume factories (nofuckingwayamIgettingherthat), and the like.
Then something caught my eye, and I stared a little harder at the box. The first title on it was "Fantasy Schmuck." The next thing was "Bracelets Fantaisie." I don't remember the rest (in other languages, of course), because those two phrases and the image next to them were enough. It was a bracelet kit, and I started laughing.
Fantasy Schmuck.
I just babelfished "schmuck" from German to English. It came up with "decoration."
Okay.
The English translation of "bracelets fantaisie" is "Gaudy Shit That Your Tween Loves But That You Wouldn't Be Caught Dead Condoning, Let Alone Wearing." Just so you know.
Maybe I'm just loopy from lack of sleep, but the Fantasy Schmuck box made me laugh in the middle of a crowded supermarket. Just like seeing one of my students using White-Out (I mean Blanco or Tipp-Ex, dear Euro-readers) made me chuckle. It reminded me of the secretary in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I started to laugh out loud during class, thinking of that secretary ("Nine times...") sniffing her little container of White-Out.
I guess I'm easily amused. And I want me a Fantasy Schmuck.
Thanks for the belly laugh. I needed one.
Posted by: Allan | December 16, 2004 at 16:39
En français:
con d'imagination
Traduire à nouveau - Saisir un maximum de 150 mots
fantasy schmuck
..........ALTAVISTA.........
J'y crois pas !!
Posted by: coldbear | December 16, 2004 at 16:42
"Con d'imagination" !!!
Mort de rire. Justement, "schmuck" en anglais veut dire "con". Je crois que ça vient du Yiddish, mais ça reste à vérifier. Enfin, maintenant tu comprends pourquoi je rigolais.
Posted by: Alison | December 16, 2004 at 16:56
In my world "fantasy schmuck" is an oxymoron. LOL
Posted by: newwavegurly | December 16, 2004 at 20:24
schmuck in yiddish is closer to "dick". at least, that's what i always thought. i'm going to look it up...
Posted by: madame l. | December 17, 2004 at 04:51
o.k., so it is asshole. this shikse's plotzing.
Posted by: madame l. | December 17, 2004 at 04:55
Very amusing indeed!
I've been called a shmuck once or twice but I had never equated the use of the term as a "decoration", and I am certain that it was not used in that meaning either.
Posted by: Jester | December 17, 2004 at 08:46
I did not know where to go to just communicate with you, so I came here. I do hope you visit the Millau Viaduct soon and tell us what you think. I find it extremely fascinating. The pictures I've seen are quite amazing.
Lee
Posted by: Lee | December 17, 2004 at 13:42