The "far-Off" Milkshake

In Seoul, Korea, I went into a 24-hour restaurant and ordered a milkshake. I asked how long it would take. The man behind the counter said, "Twenty-five minutes."

I said, "It will take such a long time?"

He corrected my English and said, "It is not too far, not too far."

I was thinking, "What will happen if I fall asleep? Let me see how much time it will take."

I set my watch and saw that it took not even 11 minutes. Such a language barrier!

-23 September 1988