more on germlish

my mom and i still do on occasion speak german, our supposedly secret language. usually, we do so in department stores and at the mall when there are commissioned sales people around who interrupt us when we are arguing the merits or lack thereof of a certain product--typically something too expensive and unnecessary, but that we really want. well, there was this one time when my mom was examining an expensive handbag and we were discussing whether or not getting it was a good decision (in german). halfway through our conversation, the sales lady interrupts us and joins our conversation in german. so the whole "secret language" thing backfired. thank goodness we weren't saying anything derogatory about her. not that the "secret language" would ever be used for such purposes. never.