The cost of not learning Spanish/wrong agency

[Jake]

... in response to The cost of not learning Spanish/wrong a..., posted by Heat on Jun 29, 2005

well put MR. Heat ...... I thought you had gone undercover but I see you were composing your thoughts .

If I may please add a comment .... I beleive out of respect to both parties American man and the latina should learn each other language . I have found that if the lady is really into you that she will try very hard to learn English . I know my lady has done a outstanding job of learning to speak and write and has done so with out any school and has never once ask me to pay for her english classes......I  have offered and she has declined ... that says alot .

[Patrick]

... in response to Re: The cost of not learning Spanish/wro..., posted by Jake on Jun 29, 2005

I've known quite a few Latin people over the last 10 years, most of them immigrated (and therefore learned English as a second language).  What I notice is that those who really embrace our culture learn English far better than those who don't.  I don't think ladies "into their man" necessarily become completely fluent.  Those who don't stay in a "Spanish cocoon" do.  They develop friendships as closely with gringos as they do with Latinos.

I know a woman who's been here over forty years who speaks almost no English.  I know another who's been here 25 years and speaks broken English (she also refuses to celebrate gringo holidays like 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc).  I feel sorry for her kids, both of whom were born here and are more into the US culture than their mother's culture.

I know two other women who are completely fluent.  I can't even detect an accent with one of them.  They "like" the US.  Some immigrants don't like the US, they simply like the relatively higher standard of living they get here.

[Red Clay]

... in response to I disagree, posted by Patrick on Jun 29, 2005

"Some immigrants don't like the US, they simply like the relatively higher standard of living they get here.
"

The understatement of the year.

[Jake]

... in response to Re: I disagree, posted by Red Clay on Jun 30, 2005

I am only talking about your lady not all the illegals here , I think we should make everybody that comes into this country and learn English ...... EVERYBODY ... you want to live here speak english ..........

[david hagar]

... in response to Re: Re: I disagree, posted by Jake on Jun 30, 2005

Amen

Beattledog

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to Re: Re: I disagree, posted by Jake on Jun 30, 2005

[This message has been edited by Looking4Wife]

As far as the "everybody MUST speak OUR language" theory is concerned:

1. This theory kind of (literally) violates that whole "freedom of speech" thing that our country holds in such high esteem...

2. And, if that's the case, we should all be speaking the languages (plural) of the indigenous peoples (i.e. the native americans, or so called "indians")

Just another way of looking at things... :-)

[Jake]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: I disagree, posted by Looking4Wife on Jun 30, 2005

if you lived in Florida and went to Burger King and you could NOT order the food because every body spoke spanish you would see my point . When I travel to SA I expect to speak there native language also ...they also have the natives in the Amazon where every tribe speaks different , but Portuguese is there lang .......

[Patrick]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: I disagree, posted by Jake on Jun 30, 2005

We went on vacation to Florida a couple of years ago.  I was surprized to find two businesses (very well-known chain franchises) in Miami where I literally had to speak Spanish.  Either the clerks didn't speak English, or they were just f*king with me by pretending not to.

I live less than two miles from the Mexican border in San Diego and I've never had that happen here.  Almost all of the local businesses have bilingual employees, but they've all spoken English with me.

We may one day have a situation similar to Canada's with Quebec if the Spanish speaking population gets large enough in places.

[Ray]

... in response to Experience in Miami, posted by Patrick on Jun 30, 2005

Patrick, we probably live within a tortilla throw of each other and I have had that happen to me quite a lot here in San Diego. I haven’t had any problems with English in most of the larger stores or in Las Americas Mall, but in some of those smaller businesses in San Ysidro it happens all the time. Go in some of the smaller stores along San Ysidro Blvd or on the West side of I-5 along W. Calle Primera. A LOT of the clerks working in those shops cannot communicate in English.

It has been a few years, but I even had that happen to me in Long’s Drugs in San Y-Skid-Row. The counter clerk had to get the manager because she didn’t understand English.

Ray

[Patrick]

... in response to Never???, posted by Ray on Jul 1, 2005

But isn't San Ysidro part of Mexico?  Just kidding.  I pass through there on my way into Mexico, but I don't stop.  It's always seemed like a transition zone to me, so I think I would expect to have that happen there sometimes (though in my limited experience, it hasn't).  I didn't expect it in Miami.

By the way, we're moving back to the USA (i.e. North of I-8).  No more being the only gringo in a neighborhood filled with Mexicans and Filipinos.  My new neighbors are all Chinese, except for the guy across the street.  I think he's Russian.

You and I may be the last US born San Diego residents.  Hell, I guess that's to be expected in a state where the Governor is Austrian.

[Ray]

... in response to No, posted by Patrick on Jul 1, 2005

You’re right Patrick. I always considered San Ysidro as part of Mexico also.

If you’re going North of I-8, you better hurry. I think they will start requiring a passport real soon. Now you’ll have to drive 30 miles for a good burrito.

I know how you feel about the neighbors. I’ve lived here in Otay Mesa for 27 years and I have always been the only white guy on the block. 95% of my neighbors are Filipino, which is fine with me since my wife is Filipina. We don’t have to drive far to buy fresh fish heads and baluts (LOL). Last year my Filipino neighbors sold their house and another white guy moved in (there goes the neighborhood). At least he is also married to a Filipina! Chinese are good neighbors too.

It’s funny you mentioned it, but it seems like most all of my relatives and childhood friends have left the State, mostly to Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Now if I can just convince that idiot Bob Filner to move out too.

Ray

[david hagar]

... in response to No, posted by Patrick on Jul 1, 2005

You think that is bad. In Tennessee, we have a Yankee for a governor. Now , for a southern state this  is bad

Beattledog

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Experience in Miami, posted by Patrick on Jun 30, 2005

I don't know what it is about Miami but they don't want to speak English. San Antonio is 60% Latino but everyone speaks English. In fact many children have parents who can speak Spanish but the children can't - that is extremely common here.

[Jake]

... in response to Miami's still part of the US?, posted by utopiacowboy on Jul 1, 2005

last american that leaves Miami please bring the flag !!!!!!

[Jake]

... in response to Experience in Miami, posted by Patrick on Jun 30, 2005

very true , That is surprising about San Deigo .