Lukas, a 22-year-old student from Bavaria, thought ordering breakfast in Shanghai would be as easy as his morning pretzel runs back home. Armed with Google Translate and confidence, he tapped through food delivery apps like a tech-savvy local—until his roommates woke up to má là tang (spicy numbing soup) instead of congee!
The ‘Hot Pot’ of Language Barriers 🔥
‘Google Translate said this was “breakfast,”’ Lukas laughed, showing screenshots of his mistranslated order that included chili oil and pig brain tofu. His Indonesian roommate Alya quipped: ‘Next time, let’s just teach him how to use facial recognition payments first!’
Cultural Win Amidst Chaos 🤝
The mishap became a bonding moment as the group—representing six countries—turned the spicy spread into a potluck. ‘We added kimchi, shared childhood stories, and agreed Lukas should stick to ordering coffee,’ said Thai student Pim, highlighting how food fails can forge global friendships.
