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 #37--WORKING

Look at that woman sweeping.
Look at that man hauling rocks.
Look at that woman carrying wood.
Look at that child picking nuts.

Look at that man picking fruit.
Look at that woman picking berries.
Look at that man picking cotton.
Look at that woman harvesting corn.

Look at that man picking vegetables.
Look at that man fishing.
Look at that man cutting cane.
Look at that woman working in the field.

Look at those men digging a ditch.
Look at that woman pounding grain.
Look at that woman washing clothes.
Look at that woman weaving.
Look at that man weeding the field.
Look at that little boy plowing.

Have you taken a picture of her/him/them sweeping/plowing/carrying/cutting/washing...?

Should I take a picture of her/him/them weeding/grinding/digging...?

Do you think they'll get upset?
I have enough pictures now.

I'm getting a little tired of watching other people work. Let's go back to the hotel.
Do you want to walk around the plaza again?