Tower of Babel on CASREC

So, a quick little item highlighting the dangerous waters we tred when learning to speak another language...especially in intense situations.

For a couple of weeks now, in an attempt to be welcoming and comforting, our nurses have been greeting our patients in their native language as they come into CASREC (casualty receiving; aka admissions) with a warm "Saya parawan". "I am a nurse." This was usually met with smiles, covered grins, or outright giggles. We were glad we were able to break the tension and fears associated with coming aboard such a foreign ship, and figured they were amused by our funny accents.

Finally, one of the interpreters, upon hearing the greeting, smiled broadly himself, and gently corrected us to say "Saya parawat" ... I am a nurse.

Evidentally, we were really tickling our patients with a greeting of a very different nature: "Saya parawan" = "I am a virign".

But I suppose, in some strange way, that could also be considered welcoming or comforting?