Hula Hoop: Destined for Greatness

I was standing with the girls at Breanna’s House the other day.  We were chatting in their rooms as they were getting ready for bed.  Several of them were gathered around me, one girl said something in Thai, and they all immediately nodded affirmation.  Dark hands touched my waist and made the “hourglass” figure in the air.  “You, you,” they all say.  More hourglasses in the air (with an emphasis on the wideness of the bottom curve).   I have found that communication across language barriers often involves dramatic charades. This night was no exception.  Ten little Asian girls start moving their hips in a circle motion.  I try not to giggle too much, and wonder what kind of compliment my self- esteem is to endure with the coming conversation.

Then, one of the girls remembers the word they’ve all been searching for in English.  Proudly, she blurts out, “Hula hoop!  You be very good at the hula hoop.”

And I laughed and accepted their complimentary pats on the back–grateful for little girls who gather round, for humor found in cross-cultural communication, and for hips that are fitted perfectly for such an esteemed sport as the hula hoop.

Tagged as: cross cultural communication, funny