A bit of a translation incident at the chemist's (pharmacy) on campus the other day. I was purchasing a tram pass, and using my bank card. Now sometimes bankcards are accepted, but many times it's cash only here. The cashier and I had just settled that I could use my card, so I swiped it and the cashier said, "PIN or sin?"
"Did it not go through?"
"Yeeh, it did. PIN or sin?"
"Did it not go through?"
"Yeeh, it did. PIN or sin?"
I thought, "Is sin some kind of
other Australian way of using your credit card? What kind of sin is required? Does it have to match the size of the purchase? If I'm loading my card with $20 what kind of sin would be appropriate?"
I said, "Could you say that again?"
"PIN or sin?"
"Ok, I just arrived here from America, and I don't always understand the Australian accent."
"I'm from Ireland."
Long pause...
"PIN or sin?"
Me, furrowed brow, still confused.
Long pause...
"PIN or sin?"
Me, furrowed brow, still confused.
Seemingly a bit surly now she said, "Enter your PIN or sin the form?"
"Oh - SIGN. I'd like to sign, please."
Turns out yes, it's just
like in America - it's PIN or SIGN. No sinning required.
Aw, too bad, because I was going to make a list of really exciting sins and their relative monetary value. Because, you know, there is grace enough for that, too.
ReplyDeleteSmooches!
I finally got a moment to begin reading about all your exciting new adventures. My initial thought was that "sin" referred to using credit rather than debit:) I would have felt very guilty signing anything.
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