Enjoy this FREE excerpt of a Short Travel Story in English from my book Short Travel Stories for English Learners:

Language learning is always an adventure, especially learning the slang words. When learning Spanish in Mexico, I learned some slang a little too late. It was late one evening and I was out with my American friends who were also learning Spanish.

A guy approached our table selling us little shrimp keychains made of cord and beads. My friend Ryan felt bad, because it seemed to be the man’s only job, and so he overpaid the guy for one of these keychains.

In our taxi on the way home, I got the hilarious idea to show our keychain out the window to anyone we passed by. So Ryan was showing the keychain, and of course, I wanted to too. So I shouted out the window, “Look at my shrimp, do you like the colors?”, laughing thinking it was hilarious. People looked and laughed, so I thought they thought it was funny too.

The next day, I was telling the story to my Mexican co-workers at the local cafe, where I volunteered. They were like, “Camille, do you know what shrimp is slang for?” Of course I didn’t. “Penis,” they told me.

My cheeks instantly burned 5 shades of deep red. I was so embarrassed. I had been telling all the lovely Mexicans to look at the beautiful colors of my penis. Sometimes, we learn the hard way, but at least I can laugh about it now.

Keywords

Adventure  an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous experience or activity

Slang  words off the street used particularly to a certain region or city

Approached  came near to

Shrimp  a small sea animal typically marine, and frequently eaten

Keychain  a small chain for holding keys.

Cord  thin flexible string

Beads  a small piece of glass, stone or plastic, typically round and used to make jewelry

Hilarious  very funny

Window  an opening in a building or car, fitted with glass allowing you to see out

Co-workers  the people you work with

Volunteered  to help out somewhere without receiving pay

Penis  the male genital organ

Cheeks  the sides of the face below the eyes

Shades  different colors

Embarrassed  feeling or showing embarrassment