Speaking the Language Helps
Once upon a time in America, when someone immigrated to this country, that person was expected to learn the language. If I were to move to Germany, I would be expected to learn and speak German. Now that does not sound to ludicrous does it? After all, learning the language, means being able to communicate, right? So, one would expect an employee of a store to speak the native language, right? I expect too much.
Today, I was in a hurry, and needed help finding where the cheesecloth could found in this particular store. So I ask a worker, the worker did not understand one word that I spoke. I know some German, but I didn't know the German word for cheesecloth, and I had a feeling this person didn't know German any better, so I didn't go there. I tried French, another I language I know, and since it is similar to Spanish I thought that might work. Oh, I got a glimmer of hope from worker. I was lead to a row of washcloths. "Thank you," I say, and find another clerk. This one says yes, yes, and I follow her and get metal graters. She proudly hands me a grater. I tried to explain that I did not need a grater, I wanted cheesecloth. She motions for me to follow her. Now we stand in front of a row measuring cups. She smiled. I disappointed her by saying no, and she stomps away. I try again with another worker. This one takes me again to the graters. It must have to do with the word, cheese, so I try to explain that cheesecloth is cloth that is used to strain things, although I wanted it to put my stuffing neatly in the bird, but I thought I better not go there.
I tried to figure out where they would put cheesecloth in this store, and after about twenty minutes of hunting, my husband finally found it. It was in the cake decorating section, which was located outside the Garden center. Go figure.
None of these people spoke English well enough for me to communicate with them. I know, I know, I should have taken Spanish in school instead of French, and I suppose that my studying German now is pointless, but I really expected people to learn the native language of English. Is that too much to expect? Don't answer.
Today, I was in a hurry, and needed help finding where the cheesecloth could found in this particular store. So I ask a worker, the worker did not understand one word that I spoke. I know some German, but I didn't know the German word for cheesecloth, and I had a feeling this person didn't know German any better, so I didn't go there. I tried French, another I language I know, and since it is similar to Spanish I thought that might work. Oh, I got a glimmer of hope from worker. I was lead to a row of washcloths. "Thank you," I say, and find another clerk. This one says yes, yes, and I follow her and get metal graters. She proudly hands me a grater. I tried to explain that I did not need a grater, I wanted cheesecloth. She motions for me to follow her. Now we stand in front of a row measuring cups. She smiled. I disappointed her by saying no, and she stomps away. I try again with another worker. This one takes me again to the graters. It must have to do with the word, cheese, so I try to explain that cheesecloth is cloth that is used to strain things, although I wanted it to put my stuffing neatly in the bird, but I thought I better not go there.
I tried to figure out where they would put cheesecloth in this store, and after about twenty minutes of hunting, my husband finally found it. It was in the cake decorating section, which was located outside the Garden center. Go figure.
None of these people spoke English well enough for me to communicate with them. I know, I know, I should have taken Spanish in school instead of French, and I suppose that my studying German now is pointless, but I really expected people to learn the native language of English. Is that too much to expect? Don't answer.
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