The Most Awkward Silence

(Here’s hoping I can get through the Great Firewall of China and actually post something on Tumblr)

My Chinese teacher invited the rest of the class and me to dinner the other night.  This restaurant featured food from Hunan, Mao’s home province.  All over the walls were various propaganda posters that looked like they were stripped right out of the Cultural Revolution.  My teacher pointed to one that showed various Chinese soldiers and peasants pointing out to sea.  She asked me to translate it.  The meaning roughly came out to “We’re going to liberate Taiwan!”  I replied “啊，他们等一些！” which means “Ah, they’re waiting a while!”

The most awkward silence followed.