| Banta was visiting the UK for the first time, and had boarded a train from Paddington and was on his way to Cardiff to visit his sister and her family. In the train, sitting across from him, this rather stoic and proper looking Englishman in a pin-striped suit was engrossed in reading the morning's paper. As the train rolled on, Banta was soon bored. Wanting to strike up a conversation he leaned over and asked the Englishman, "Excuse me Sir, what is your name?" Not very happy at this development, the Englishman nevertheless obliged and said, "John Smith. And what is your name Sir?" Banta replied, "Banta. And where are you from Mr. Smith?" "From Lancashire," And you Mr. Banta? Making every effort to keep up with Mr. Smith, Banta replied, "From Mohalishire!" This confused the hell out of Mr. Smith. He knew of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Lincolnshire, Worcestershire; but Mohalishire??? Eyebrows raised, he asked Banta, "And on what "longitude and latitude" would Mohalishire be Sir?" Now it was Banta's turn to look all confused. But not willing to show his ignorance, and not knowing the meaning of these words, he replied in his new found accent, "Sir, You see, in Mohalishire we don't use Latitude and Longitude we have the more advanced geographical coordinates "Bhenkitude" & "Maakitude". Mr. Smith is still searching the dictionary for those words!!! |