Language Problems

When I was in Johannesburg I met a Mozambican friend who had moved there to go to school. His english had improved a lot and I met the family he was staying with. I asked how things were going and they said really well, though he had some trouble earlier with using the proper english word. They all started laughing so I asked for the story.

Seem my friend Eddie was looking a little down one day and they asked him, "What's the matter Eddie? Are you feeling ill?"

Eddie replied, "I don't feel good. I'm constipated."

So they got him some Milk of Magnesia and began dosing him. Soon he is making frequent trips to the toilet. A day or two goes by and they ask him how he's doing. He said, "I am constipated. That medicine did not work."

So they get some stronger stuff and soon Eddie is going to the toilet every 15 minutes or so. But he seemed troubled, so they asked him, "What's going on Eddie?" And he said, "I'm constipated. I feel lousy."

At this point the guy asked Eddie, "Please describe your condition to me." And Eddie said, "My head is thick. I can't breathe through my nose, My head hurts. It's constipated."

By now we were all laughing at the story. They explained to Eddie that the proper word was "congested" .....
From his initial description they were treating the wrong end.

Such is the problem with learning new languages.