Friday, May 02, 2008

Manicure

My cousin's getting married this weekend so I'll be out of town for a few days. I don't know if I'll have internet access, and even if I do, if I'll have time to get on the computer. Umm...choice...sunny Florida beaches vs. computers. No contest. In preparation, I got a manicure tonight. My nail tech and the woman next to her carried on a loud conversation in their language the entire time. I have to wonder if they're talking about the customers. Okay, so I sound paranoid. Am I the only one who ever wonders this? I know some French. I can't speak it, but I can read and understand it. Several years ago my office mate at the day job was from Haiti and so she spoke Haitian French Creole. She didn't know I could understand most of what she said. One day, she told her friend how much she hated America and Americans - in her language - in front of me. Of course she thought I was oblivious. I was soooooooo flipping mad. If she hated America and Americans so much, then why was she here? Why do people assume that others around them can't understand what they're saying? Not that I understood the women tonight. Have a great weekend. I'll see you next week.

12 comments:

Molly Daniels said...

My sister, who is fluent in Spanish, spent some time at a local Indiana high school monitoring a class or something. There were two boys speaking Spanish at the back of the room, and they obviously didn't think anyone knew what they were saying. My sis understood they were making insinuating remarks about the teacher and other females in the classroom. She called them on it, and reported them. Don't remember what the outcome was.

Phoenix said...

I speak several languages and this happens very frequently. I have put people in their places more than once or stared them down for being idiots.

There's no excuse for rudeness

Brynn Paulin said...

Oh that is so irritating. I used to have that happen when I was getting my nails done. I could just imagine what they were saying...

Vi said...

What annoys me is when people move to a country, and don't bother to learn the language. WHY????

Have a good weekend!

barbara huffert said...

I love being underestimated like that even though it angers me tremendously.

And I agree, you don't like America, go back where you came from and stop sucking up my hard earned pay.

Utter Basketcase said...

Have a wondeful trip!!!

Oh I LOVE hearing about people busting overs conversations with them thinking no one else understands them!!! I hope that you told her where to shove it!! :-) xx

Jan said...

My sister is a nurse in a hospital. Several of the nurses speak in their home country language ALOT. One day a couple of them were saying something very nasty about a patient...right outside the patient's door. Little did they know, that patient spoke their language fluently and understood everything they said. Needless to day, they don't work there anymore! Why would people assume that no one else understands! Rude is rude no matter what language it's in!

Jan

ksd said...

Have fun at the wedding.

Michelle said...

I understand how you feel. I know some Russian, Spanish, French & ASL(American Sign Language) and have encountered similar situations. If people don't like us or our country then frickin get out I am tired of that attitude. I've encountered it while living overseas as well as here and in the news. Nosy, blankin americans we can't stand them blah blah blah and yet in the next breathe I hear why aren't the Americans taking care of the pirates off the coast of Africa or some such crap. They bad mouth & whine about us but then want or help, money & protection...ok enough said.

Cath said...

I think it is the height of bad manners to speak in a foreign language in front of anyone you believe does not understand, so deliberately excluding them.

Hope you enjoy the wedding!

Anonymous said...

I agree it's bad manners and makes me uncomfortable. I love that you were able to understand your work associate!

I hope you had a great time at the wedding!

Sandra Cox said...

Enjoy the wedding and Florida;)

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