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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 12 “= August 1, 2006 Dryene Hippinghe’s Struggles with “Rinecarts,” “Propertees,” and “Lice” Tablecloths By Drienie Hattingh behind the crowd and calls out, “Mom, let’s go home. I think it stopped raining!” 7 this Ma doesn’t give up that easily. I look the manager in the eye, “I’m looking for raincoats. Do you have any raincoats?” Five employees and six shoppers turn to the manager as though he possesses magical decihering powers and will decode this amazing, never-heard-of-before word. The manager puts his hand over his mouth and frowns, looking up at the roof. “Rinecarts!” He announces dramatically— sounding like Queen Elizabeth. The onlookers all turn to me triumphant “Sorry ma’m,” says the manager, “I don’t know what that is, but I’m pretty sure we don’t have it.” m furious. I pull myself up to my full five foot four inches, blow my hair away from my hot forehead, stretch my arms high up into the air, wiggle my fingers, and move my arms up and down. “When it’s raining and pouring, what do you need?” I finish my Oscar winning performance by putting on an imaginary raincoat. “Oh!” awhole chorus of voices chime in, “A raincoat! Is that not whatI said? I want to scream. “Sorry ma’m...,” states the manager, “we do not have raincoats, I make my way — the spectators, ignoring questions ~ “Where are you from?” “Lo your accent!” as | go searching for my yellowbellied children, And now, here we are, twenty years later, and my accent is the same. I read somewhere that if you immigrate before you are eleven years old, your accent will change; but if you are 13 years or older, it will not. Apparently your jaw, vocal “Excuse me, where are the raincoats?” I ask an employee at Target. “Good morning!” she says i with a dazzling smile. How may we help you today?” “Good morning.” I reply, returning her smile. “Where can I find raincoats “J don’t think we have any Sas but P’Il ask someone.” Employee #1 returns with employee #2. “Good morning! How may we help you today?” #2 greets me with a big smile. “Where are the raincoats?” I ask again without a smile. I knew what was coming. She frowns, “I’m sorry, I did not get that?” My children take a few steps away from me; they say I embarrass them My always diplomatic fourteen-year-old son, Eugene makes a gallant effort and says to me in Afrikaans. “Mom, it’s not their fault, they just do not understand your accent, don’t be nasty.” “Wait I'll be back... ,” says #2. | love your accent PHL . .,” coos. She takes a step back after noticing my glare. What part of raincoat don t they understand? Employee #2 returns with employees number 3, 4, and 5 he store manager. My children are now nowhere to be seen. A good thing; other shoppers have stopped shopping and have now joined us. It is getting pretty crowded between the isles. “Good morning ma’m!” says the store manager with a huge smile. “How may we help you today?” He is sure he will save the day. He is sorry that he has ug He jumps up and down deserted his mother. SFG cont. from page 1 rf — cords, and everything else is formed iby age 13. And to America and is as American as ee pie. Brenda was 11 and talked American within a week, and Eugene was 13 and still has his accent as do Johan and I. I try not to get frustrated anymore. Afier all, it’s not my fellow Americans’ fault. And since we came to live in the West it’s been easier. People here understand us better. In Minnesota, where we lived for 16 years, people aren’t used to accents. Minnesota is off the beaten track—the rest of the world thinks Minnesota is permanently frozen and tries to avoid going there. But every now and again I’m still confronted with my accent problem. Whil i i | i td atchurch I told my friends that I’d show them how to make proper tea. They were perplexed. Whatever did I mean by ‘making property? And when I suggested = were horrified! They thought I’d said ice abe. cloths. And those maddening answering machines when one calls the bank or credit card company? Animated voices say, “Please answer yes or no to the following pestions!” I listen to the question and answer yes! And the voice comes back, every single time, “I did not get that. Please say yes or no.” I’ve cursed those machines so many times. Luckily they don’t understand my “bleeping” accent. And whenI spell my name over the phone. “D” jor day, * ‘R’ for red... the person repeats, “D” for ” But the worst is the A sound. ‘die,’ *R” jor reed... Ill say, “H” for hate, “A” for Ann... The person then repeats, “HT!” for Hite, T” for Ine Eventually, I’ll get the packet addressed to: Dryene Hippinghe. 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