As a waitress, Ive heard countless mispronunciations of our international menu. But when I overheard Andrew “correcting” his girlfriend Amandas flawless Italian, German, and Mandarin, I just had to say something.
Advertisement
The Friday night rush at Flavors of the World restaurant always kept me on my toes. As a waitress, I loved the hustle and bustle, the clinking of glasses, and the hum of conversation.
But what I enjoyed most was listening to the diverse languages spoken by our patrons as they ordered from our international menu.
A waitress serving drinks at a restaurant | Source: Pexels
One couple in particular caught my attention: Amanda and Andrew. They were regulars, who came in every Friday without fail.
Amanda had her bright eyes and a gentle demeanor. She always impressed me with her linguistic abilities.
Shed order dishes in their native tongues, and her pronunciation was spot-on whether it was Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, or German.
Advertisement
“Buonasera [Good evening],” Amanda greeted me one evening. “Potrei avere gli gnocchi alla sorrentina, per favore [could I have the gnocchi alla sorrentina, please]?”
A plate of gnocchi | Source: Pexels
I smiled, appreciating her flawless Italian. “Certamente, signora. Ottima scelta [Certainly, maam. Excellent choice]!”
Andrew, on the other hand, was a different story. Tall and conventionally handsome, he carried himself with an air of superiority that set my teeth on edge.
Every time Amanda spoke, hed interrupt, “correcting” her pronunciations with his own butchered versions.
A woman looking sad at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
“Its not nyocky,” hed say, rolling his eyes. “Its guh-nocky. Honestly, Amanda, you sound ridiculous.”
Id bite my tongue, not wanting to be rude and possibly reduce my tip.
Amanda would always shrink a little at his words. “Im sorry, Andrew. I thought –”
“No, you didnt think,” hed cut her off. “Just order like a normal person next time, okay?”
An angry looking man at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
This pattern repeated week after week. Amanda would order beautifully in whatever language the dish originated from, and Andrew would belittle her efforts.
“Ich hätte gerne das Wiener Schnitzel, bitte [I would like the Wiener Schnitzel, please],” Amanda said one night in impeccable German.
Advertisement
“Its weiner snitchel, Amanda,” Andrew scoffed, bothering the name of the typical Austrian dish. “Stop trying to sound fancy.”
A plate of Wiener Schnitzel | Source: Pexels
I watched as Amandas confidence dwindled with each passing week, and it broke my heart to see such talent and passion being stifled.
This particular Friday was different for some reason.
Amandas usual smile was strained as she and Andrew walked in. But I quickly realized why.
Behind them trailed an older couple I hadnt seen before, but the family resemblance was clear. Andrews parents.
An older couple walking into a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
I approached their table with a notepad in hand. “Good evening, folks. What can I get you tonight?”
Amanda glanced at the menu, then at Andrew, before speaking softly. “Ill have the pho ga, please.”
“Its foe guh, Amanda. God, do you have to be so pretentious all the time?”
Amandas cheeks flushed. “Im sorry, I just –”
An upset woman at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Dont mind her,” Andrew cut in, addressing his parents. “She thinks shes so smart, always showing off.”
His mother tutted sympathetically. “Oh, sweetie,” she said to Amanda, “are you always such a bragger? Cant you speak normally?”
Advertisement
I gripped my pen tighter and felt my knuckles whitening. Amanda looked like she wanted to disappear.
Andrew leaned into her ear but whispered loud enough for me to hear. “Stop shaming me. Talk like a normal person.”
A man at a restaurant leaning close to a woman | Source: Midjourney
When tears welled in Amandas eyes, I knew I couldnt stand by any longer.
“Nín hǎo [Hello],” I said, addressing Andrew in Mandarin. “Qǐng bùyào rúcǐ cūlǔ de duìdài nín de nǚpéngyǒu [Please do not treat your girlfriend so rudely].”
Andrews jaw dropped. Amandas head snapped up, surprise replacing the hurt in her eyes.
“Xièxiè nǐ [Thank you],” Amanda replied, her Mandarin flowing smoothly. “Zhè duì wǒ yìyì zhòngdà [This means a lot to me].”
Advertisement
A woman at a restaurant looking up and smiling | Source: Midjourney
Andrew and his parents exchanged bewildered glances. “Whats going on?” he demanded. “What are you saying?”
“Oh, I was just asking you not to treat your girlfriend so rudely. And Amanda was thanking me, saying it means a lot to her,” I answered sweetly.
“I dont believe you!” he accused me. “Youre making that up. Youre insulting us!”
“Son,” his father interjected, “maybe you should –”
An older man looking upset at a restaurant | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
“No!” Andrew slammed his hand on the table. “Shes lying. She has to be. Amanda, what did she say?”
Amanda sat up straighter, and her eyes sparkled. Something had changed. “Shes not lying, Andrew. And neither am I when I pronounce words correctly in other languages.”
“But… but I thought…” Andrew sputtered.
A man confused and surprised at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“You thought wrong,” Amanda said firmly. “Ive spent years studying languages. Just because you dont understand something doesnt make it wrong or shameful.”
“So what, youre some kind of genius now? Is that what youre saying?”
“No,” Amanda replied. “Im just someone who loves languages and has worked hard to learn them. Theres nothing wrong with that.”
Advertisement
A notebook and a book with notes on learning Spanish | Source: Pexels
Andrews mother chimed in, obviously embarrassed by the scene they were causing. “Sweetie, dont you think its a bit… much? Always showing off like this?”
“Its not showing off to use the skills youve worked hard to acquire” Amanda retorted. “Would you say the same thing to a musician playing an instrument well?”
“Well, I… thats different.”
“How?” Amanda challenged. “How is it different?”
A woman with a raised eyebrow at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
Andrews father cleared his throat. “Now, lets all calm down. Im sure we can-”
“No, Dad,” Andrew cut in. “I want to hear this. Go on, Amanda. Tell us how smart you are.”
I watched in anticipation as Amanda took a deep breath. “This isnt about being smart or bragging! Its about respect. Respect for other cultures, for the effort people put into learning, and for me as a person.”
A smiling waitress | Source: Pexels
“Respect?” Andrew scoffed. “What about respecting me? Do you know how embarrassing it is when you start spouting off in some foreign language?”
“Embarrassing for whom?” Amanda shot back. “For you? Because you cant understand it? Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, the problem isnt with me speaking other languages but with your reaction to it?”
Advertisement
The restaurant had grown quiet as other diners watched the scene unfold. Andrews mother cleared her throat awkwardly. “Perhaps we should go somewhere else.”
A busy restaurant | Source: Pexels
“I think thats a good idea,” Amanda agreed and stood. “And Ill be going home. Alone!” She turned to me. “Thank you for your kindness. Grazie mille. Danke schön. Muchas gracias!”
With that, she walked out and held her head high. I smiled and waited.
Andrew and his parents shuffled out soon after with their tails between their legs.
A restaurant door | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
The following Friday, I was surprised to see Amanda walk in alone. She looked different, somehow lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Table for one?” I asked.
She nodded, smiling. “Yes, please. And Id love to chat if you have a moment.”
Once Id seated her and taken her order, I pulled up a chair. “How are you doing?”
A seated woman smiling | Source: Pexels
“Better than I have in a long time,” Amanda admitted. “I broke up with Andrew the day after… well, you know.”
I nodded encouragingly. “That must have been tough.”
Advertisement
“It was, but it was also liberating. I realized Id been living in fear of his judgment for so long. When I told him it was over, he couldnt believe it.”
“What did he say?” I asked, curious.
Read also
My Husband Gave My Invitation to His Sisters Wedding to His Best Female Friend — I Made Him Regret It
I Called My Late Wife’s Number and Surprisingly Someone Picked up the Phone – Story of the Day
‘My Dad Has a Pic of Him Kissing You!’ Girl Says to Teacher She Meets for the First Time – Story of the Day
A blonde woman smiling | Source: Pexels
“He said, Youre making a mistake, Amanda. Whos going to put up with your show-off behavior? Can you believe that?” Amanda shook her head. “I told him, Someone who appreciates intelligence and curiosity! Someone unlike you.”
I grinned. “Good for you! How did that feel?”
“Terrifying and exhilarating all at once,” Amanda laughed. “But you know what? Your intervention made me realize how much Id been diminishing myself to make him comfortable. Id forgotten how much joy I found in languages, and in learning about different cultures. Id let him convince me it was something to be ashamed of.”
Advertisement
A smiling woman at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Im glad I could help,” I said. “No one should make you feel small for being passionate about something.”
Amandas eyes shone. “Absolutely. And you know what? Ive decided to apply for a job as a translator. Its something Ive always wanted to do but never dared to pursue.”
“Thats fantastic!” I exclaimed. “Where are you applying?”
A blonde woman at a restaurant | Source: Pexels
Advertisement
“Theres an international non-profit organization that works with refugees. They need translators who can speak multiple languages fluently. Its perfect for me.”
As we continued talking, switching between languages with ease, I marveled at the change in Amanda. She radiated confidence and enthusiasm, and just because I stepped in at last.
When it was time for me to get back to work, Amanda reached out and squeezed my hand. “Thank you again. For everything.”
Hand shake at a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
I squeezed back. “Anytime and good luck!”
Sometimes, all it takes is one small act of kindness to help someone find their self-confidence again. And in a world full of different languages and cultures, all voices deserve to be heard, loud and clear.
Advertisement
A smiling woman at an office | Source: Midjourney
Click here to read another story: I wasnt a people person, but when the trajectory of my career changed, I attracted three friends. While I wanted friendship and a healthy bond, they focused on something else. When I eventually realized the truth about them, I went for them with all I had!
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
