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It goes back to when I just started working in Canada, fresh from the old country and with a easiness in English ... uncertain?
I had one of those deep meetings with the guy that was paying me. One in which you discuss the project, what they expect from it, what kind of developments, what's in it for everybody, the works.
In Italian the word "eventually" means "maybe". So it is exactly the contrary than in English, where it means that it will certainly happen, unknown how and when, but certain, it has a doom like sound to it.
I said: eventually you will pay me more (or words to that effect). I saw his face going through a full range of expressions. He glanced at me totally uncertain. I had a stern face, if something it was hopeful, and modest. A perfect snake face.
Luckily for us he was and is an extremely nice man. There followed a lengthy explanation, many smiles. For a guy from Toronto. After a reasonable amount of time I did get a generous rise, without asking for it. Exactly, eventually.
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