Say What?

Cambodians don't like American style chips.  As a chipoholic, this was frustrating to me at first, but I have gotten used to not eating chips.  There are some chip-like snacks which the children like to eat.  However, they are always weird, squid or fish flavored chips that have the texture and consistency of Funyons.  As such, they are totally disgusting to a vegetarian.  A few times, I have found these Chinese tomato flavored chips.  I've never actually seen a Cambodian eat them, but I find them to be edible, and they have served my chip cravings a few times.  But that is not the point of this post.  The thing I find most interesting about these chips is the English translation on the front of the package.  It says, " Tomato Orchard.  Every day Every time.  How delicious it can not be forgotten, special taste, return to true flavor.  Give you the infinite feeling."  After eating these chips, I am still wondering what infinite feeling I am supposed to have.

Oddly worded English translations are everywhere.  One day, a student wore a t-shirt to class, and on the front it said, "The world is a canvas, and you must throw."  I stared at it with confusion and told her I didn't understand it.  She said, "I don't know.  I bought it at the market."  This only added to my amusement. 

Another time, I saw a guy on a moto wearing a t-shirt that read, "This is a designer t-shirt."  What designer?  I think that Cambodians just like to wear shirts with English because they think it's cool. 

I thought this was silly until I realized that I own a two t-shirts written in Khmer and one shirt written in Arabic which I can't read, but I bought them because I thought they were cool.  Now who is the silly one?