This is a true story (believe it or not?) of the Japanese Embassy in the United States.
A while ago, Japanese Prime Minister Mori received some instructions in Basic English conversation before he visits Washington and meets president Barack Obama…
The instructor told Mr. Mori: When you shake hand with President Obama, please say ‘How are you’. Then Mr. Obama should say, ‘I am fine, and you?‘. And you respond saying: ‘Me too’. Afterwards we, translators, will do the work for you. It seems very simple, but the truth is…
When Mr. Mori met Obama, he mistakenly said ‘Who are you?’ – Instead of ‘How are you?’
Initially, President Obama was a little shocked, but managed to react with humor: ‘Well, I’m Michelle’s husband, ha-ha-ha…’
Then Mr. Mori replied: ‘Me too, ha-ha-ha…’
Then there was a long silence in the meeting room…
You can tell this is not a true story because Mori was prime minister in early 2000’s, not in the past 3 years. The original version with Mori involved Bill Clinton, not Barack Obama. And even that has been shown to be fabricated.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/whoareyou.asp
Good for Obama, he should not think that high about himself. :-))
Me too!
Didn’t John F. Kennedy say something of the sort when he was in France.
“I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.”
I think maybe Obama was paraphrasing that.
My God!
Same thing happens to me when I write in English.
🙁
Stef
That was the funniest joke I’ve read in a while. 🙂
Not true: http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/whoareyou.asp