What is this?

QU'EST-CE QUE C'EST? ***WHAT IS THIS?***CHTO ETO?

Welcome to At the Ruins (by Shirley B. Trew), the generic phrasebook-cum-novel introduced by the dear Professor Emeritus Jacques Roundabout in the blog at-the-ruins.blogspot.com.

Here, the Conventional/Traditional novel form is used, just the way Charles Dickens's work (originally a 19th. c. blog of the era) is now packaged in fat books.

Read Professor Roundabout's Foreword, then plunge into the phrasebook novel. Uh, novel phrasebook.

Just read Post #1, then Post #2, and so on. At the bottom of each page, CLICK OLDER POSTS. Don't worry, you'll catch on eventually.

Contact me at sbtrew@gmail.com

P.S. THE FOREWORD SETS UP THE PREMISE; YA GOTTA READ IT.


FOREWORD, by Professor Jacques Roundabout


Often, people travel in pairs. One has common sense, the other speaks a little of the language. One is obsessed with maps, the other with native costumes. One is into photography, the other, shopping. One keeps an eye out for food, the other, ruins.

Here, finally, is the perfect travel phrasebook for both of them.

The problem with so many well-intentioned travelers' phrasebooks is that they're written in two languages, when in fact travelers most often find themselves juggling three or four at least as they seek stimulation and adventure around the world, and directions on how to find a bathroom.

But hardly anybody can handle three or four languages, and most Americans can't even handle two.

Besides, when the natives offer to sell you things, ask you questions, or even give you directions, they speak in their own language, with their own accents, and at normal speed. So even if your phrasebook has all the answers in it, everything will happen too fast for you to be able to translate and understand what they've said.

This first generic phrasebook skips over the frustration and gets right to the essence of your travel experience.

At long last, here is a traveler's phrasebook that translates all the phrases that you are likely to use, need, or hear into one language--good old American English. For the first time, you can finally grasp the essence of your travel experience.

Bon voyage! Oops--Good Trip!

J.R., Timbuktu

Wednesday, September 26, 2012


POST #21—MAIN BUS STATION

Are we there? Where are we? Are we at the station? Is this the station?

Well I just assumed that it was 5:30 PM. Do you want to wait here for 14 hours? Do you think it would be safe? Is there a bathroom?

What does it mean that the bus is local? What is that, as opposed to galactic?
Which bus is ours? There must be hundreds of buses here.
Which one of the names on the front is where it's going?
Where is the bus going, please?
We should ask that man with a clipboard.
Is this the bus to (place)?
We want to go to (place).
Is there a bus to (place)?
Is there anybody here who speaks English?
What does your ticket say?
Is this the bus number, the seat number, or the gate number?

I think it's the time. Either that or how many million bongoes it cost.

Why are there so many people here? Do you think they're having some sort of holiday? Are they having a holy day or something?
He says to take the bus for "Capu." What is Capu?
I don't know. Why would the bus to the train station say "Capu" on it?

I don't know. Maybe it's an important saint/revolutionary hero/missionary/banker/king.
Posted by at