Llamando los mojados
/Mexico rant
I went to CVS tonight and yet again got ahead of a "Mexican" woman who spoke almost no English. The poor American high school girl waiting on her tried to speak to her in broken Spanish. The attempt was a valiant one on the part of the CVS employee. Because I can speak Spanish I am tempted to look at these people and ask, "if you are going to come to live and work in the United States, why is it you cannot be bothered to learn some rudimentary English. If it's too much trouble maybe you should go home."
I know this probably makes me sound like some sort of culturally insensitive bitch, but I think I have a right to complain. When I went to Chile, I did not walk around speaking English. I worked hard every day to learn Spanish, as I was living and studying there. In fact, if I had not learned any English I would have been in big trouble. I know from the first time I read The Ugly American in grade school that Americans were always considered culturally insensitive. I never travel abroad expecting people to help me in English even though I am always grateful when they can. For example, while traveling in Germany I am particularly vulnerable, as I don't speak a word of German. Nevertheless, I try or don't have expectations of others being able to speak English.
When I was in eight grade my Grandmother took my brother, my cousin and myself to Mexico City. We stayed in a hotel there that left bottled water in the rooms for drinking every night. You know or learn quickly never drink Mexican tap water. Anyway, there were four of us and we quickly consumed more that the four bottles of water left each day. I sat down with my dictionary in hand and wrote out a note in Spanish to the maid. "Please leave us more bottles of water, thank you". The next day when we returned to the room there were about 10 bottles of water on the dresser for us.
I understand that these people were not born here, and do not speak English. I understand that most come from limited educational backgrounds. But, for God's sake if you are going to come here to live and work you can at least make the minimal amount of effort to learn some basic English. Don't' expect us to learn Spanish so we can communicate with you. If this is too much trouble - go home. We do not need to roll over dead to learn Spanish to accommodate you.
Yes, I can speak Spanish, yes I can speak a lot of French. Yes, I will be glad to help you in Spanish, if you show at least the smallest amount of effort on your part to attempt to communicate in English.
/end rant
I went to CVS tonight and yet again got ahead of a "Mexican" woman who spoke almost no English. The poor American high school girl waiting on her tried to speak to her in broken Spanish. The attempt was a valiant one on the part of the CVS employee. Because I can speak Spanish I am tempted to look at these people and ask, "if you are going to come to live and work in the United States, why is it you cannot be bothered to learn some rudimentary English. If it's too much trouble maybe you should go home."
I know this probably makes me sound like some sort of culturally insensitive bitch, but I think I have a right to complain. When I went to Chile, I did not walk around speaking English. I worked hard every day to learn Spanish, as I was living and studying there. In fact, if I had not learned any English I would have been in big trouble. I know from the first time I read The Ugly American in grade school that Americans were always considered culturally insensitive. I never travel abroad expecting people to help me in English even though I am always grateful when they can. For example, while traveling in Germany I am particularly vulnerable, as I don't speak a word of German. Nevertheless, I try or don't have expectations of others being able to speak English.
When I was in eight grade my Grandmother took my brother, my cousin and myself to Mexico City. We stayed in a hotel there that left bottled water in the rooms for drinking every night. You know or learn quickly never drink Mexican tap water. Anyway, there were four of us and we quickly consumed more that the four bottles of water left each day. I sat down with my dictionary in hand and wrote out a note in Spanish to the maid. "Please leave us more bottles of water, thank you". The next day when we returned to the room there were about 10 bottles of water on the dresser for us.
I understand that these people were not born here, and do not speak English. I understand that most come from limited educational backgrounds. But, for God's sake if you are going to come here to live and work you can at least make the minimal amount of effort to learn some basic English. Don't' expect us to learn Spanish so we can communicate with you. If this is too much trouble - go home. We do not need to roll over dead to learn Spanish to accommodate you.
Yes, I can speak Spanish, yes I can speak a lot of French. Yes, I will be glad to help you in Spanish, if you show at least the smallest amount of effort on your part to attempt to communicate in English.
/end rant