Our English Speaking Dog

Woman in elevator: So you speak to your dog in English?

Me: Yes

Woman in elevator: And it understands you?

Me: Yes

Woman in elevator: If you speak Chinese, does it understand?

Me: No

Woman in elevator as she's exiting: It understands English, but not Chinese . . . (sounding baffled)

This conversation is second only to the "is she a golden retriever?" one when it comes to strangers and Scout. People seem either amazed and/or jealous that our dog understands English, because they often say, "Ha! Your dog can understand English and I can't!"

Sometimes I feel like part of my purpose here is simply to astound the locals.