Teaching a German to speak Southern- a followup

In my last blog entry, I mentioned that I tried to teach one of my German lab mates how to speak Southern. I tried to emphasize the idea that people in the south often refer to others as Dahling, sweetheart, or honey. I will now followup with a slightly awkward situation that followed this event.

When I left the German's apartment at 10pm, I was so tired that I walked out without my jacket, or my mobile phone, but the German promised to bring the item to lab the next day. So this male German brought my jacket and handy into the lab and left them on my desk. I thought nothing of it. Later that day, when I left the lab to leave for Fulbright orientation, the German said "Goodbye Darling." Two other labmates in the room looked rather surprised at this salutation, especially considering that this lab mate brought in items that I 'forgot' at his house. In fact, their jaws seemed to drop. I realized that the salution and situation seemed to suggest that something other than talking happened between myself and this male labmate. I quickly talked about how Southerners refer to each other as darling, sweetheart, or honey. I demonstrated by calling another labmate sweetheart, which received another blank stare.

Now perhaps I misinterpretted the silence and blank stares. But at the very least, I how now explained a strange Southern custom to other German people.

If this labmate reads this blog. I wish this German labmate all the best in Houston! Veil Glucke!