Teresa Derr, 134 YinD
English What Now? is an ongoing series based around the humorous, head-scratching, or just plain amusing English found around Thailand observed and written by Teresa Derr.
Travel is a staple of being a Peace Corps volunteer. Whether you’re traveling for official PC business, medical appointments, or fun, whether it be with other volunteers or friends from site, you must find a good hotel. And I am not exempt, so the amusing English found in hotels has not avoided my scrutiny! Here is some hotel signage that made me and others laugh.
Excellent use of English to decorate the otherwise bland room, and really shows how fun and creative English can be. Of course, since this hostel was called Tuk Tuk Hostel, I definitely kept an ear open while I slept, just in case there were wild, man-eating taxis roaming the halls. I didn’t hear any!
No smoking and no pets are common hotel signs and just good courtesy for spaces often occupied by many people trying to coexist for an evening. Thailand, of course, has to add yet another rule to the list of how to be a good guest – no durian, for the same reasons! Durian, which is notorious for smelling like particularly pungent trash, has been banned at pretty much every hotel I’ve been at. Just a fair warning for those visiting Thailand and hoping to try this exotic, infamous fruit – do it outside!
English does so love its vowels – in every single configuration. Kayla had to ask me if I’d seen the “CWAtion” sign before I spotted the mistake. UA is just as valid a vowel configuration as AU (even I struggle using it, especially in guard and guarantee). But whatever hotel you stay at, wherever you travel, do so with plenty of CWAtion and just as much caution.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you’ve stayed at any interesting hotels in Thailand and have seen some fun English, please do let me know! I’d love to write about it.
Sticky Rice 
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