Lost In Translation

I've been to three different countries that speak something other than English. So I am always appreciative of those who make the effort to learn my language, and end up speaking a pretty good amount of it. I may learn a few phrases in their language, and that seems to be enough to make them happy. So far, we've gotten by really well here and the people we've met usually communicate with us well. There was once when I thought I got a good deal on something when I heard the girl say the item was 17 (yuan), when it ended up being 70. Oh. Still a good deal.

Tonight, someone in my clan was able to plug our toilet. It wasn't me. But it was I who had to go to the front desk and ask for a plunger. I went back to the room and soon enough, the housekeeper knocked on the door. Good, she's here. Now we can all get back to business, or doing business. When I opened the door, the housekeeper was standing there with a surge protector. What was I supposed to do with that? I wonder what you get when you ask for a surge protector?