Lost in translation...

My friends and I were visiting London Zoo. We'd just arrived in London a week before; our spoken English was still in its infancy.

We had a Polaroid (no smart phones back then) and oohed and aahed with every picture we took.

I was a bit ahead when I arrived at the seals' enclosure. One was capering like a loony, enjoying the water.

I shouted to the girls.

-''Hurry! Come and see the phoque. It's so funny!''

Silence. Mothers threw me disgusted looks while pulling their offspring away. Other people though, surreptitiously came closer hoping to enjoy a good show.