I just learned to say "hi" and "thank you" in the languages of the different Asian communities I live with. It totally transforms my relationships like a cultural "open seseme". (sometimes I have needed the phrase "does your brother carry a gun".)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Sep 17, 2006, at 9:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: > > > At least in the major cities, many if not most of > > the people you speak to *can* understand and speak > > English. It's just that unless their income is > > completely dependent on tips -- and sometimes even > > when it is -- they WON'T converse with you in English > > until you first prove your worthiness as a human being. > > > > You do this by attempting to speak French, and thus by > > embarrassing yourself thoroughly in public. Once you've > > done this and the other French people in the shop or > > bar or restaurant have had the opportunity to snicker > > silently at your terrible accent and grammar, the French > > are more than willing to suddenly rediscover their > > previously-lapsed language skills and speak English > > with you. It's a pecking order thang. :-) > > Actually, I've found that most people appreciate this. Nobody expects > fluency from a tourist, but if you visit another country, and attempt > to speak even a few phrases, even if you have to look them up in a > phrase-book right as you're speaking them, people seem to treat you > differently, as someone who is making an effort, even a small one, to > understand a part of their culture. I've never interpreted the > laughter to be derisive. > > Sal > To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
