So... Whats for lunch?

[james h.]

Yes. My neighbors used to hate my Primus cranking days! hahaa!

I didn't know they were from California either? Not surprising, it seems a lot of cool artists come out of that beautiful state.

  Hi P.C.

  G'd afternoon to everyone.

[purelife]

Hey James H.  How was your lunch?  Just curious, are you from Vancouver or the States?

[tenkani]

 Heya P.C.
A chicken breast sandwhich and a pepsi one.
The person working the cafeteria sammie shop didn't understand "chicken breast sandwhich" even when repeated twice, so I had to point to it on the menu. That's the price we pay for living in this area. Accents don't really bother me (actually they can be pretty cool), but when an employee's English is so poor that they can't even pronounce or understand the items on their own menu there is a problem.

On the menu it says "chicken breast sandwhich. TRY IT HOT!". So a while back I said, I'd like the sandwhich hot. Que? Can you heat up the sandwhich? Um....hmmmm? Can you please heat the sandwhich meat up? Oh...I no understand.

After a while this shit wears on you. I can't blame the immigrants because I would do exactly the same thing in their shoes. So who do I blame? The owners who just care about their profit margin so they hire people who don't speak a word of English? I don't know, I just want a sandwhich without having to play a guessing game every time and hope I get what I ordered.

/rant

P.S. the sandwich is delicious.
   

[P.C.]

Pointing to the menu was a good call.  I think I may have done it differently.

  I hear ya tenkani.  No judgement intended, but I understand the frustration behind this.  Yes....the owners share some responsibility.  They're kinda keeping them trapped.....no need to learn the language if they can keep getting by without it.

[purelife]

The owners are looking to save money so that is why they hire immigrants.  It's terrible that the owners take advantage of this just to penny pinch.  

[tenkani]

  There are a couple of towns in my area where virtually NO ONE speaks any English.
And it's not that they are bi-lingual but choose to converse in Spanish, they simply don't speak English at all. And as you alluded to, they are in a position where they don't really need to learn English to survive. These towns become enclaves where they isolate themselves from the outside world.
 
EDIT: to purelife, yup. And I don't have the slightest problem with hiring immigrants as long as they can do the job they're hired for, but customer service requires the ability to communicate, hay??

[Sportsdude]

 el pollo bocadillo caliente por favor - chicken sandwhich hot please

I didn't know sandwhich but I know what chicken hot is and of course please.

And I only took 1 semester of spanish
   

[purelife]

Speaking of English and other languages, yesterday, my coworker pointed out to me that our coworker sitting across was conversing in Cantonese with another fellow co-worker.  These two were talking quietly in Cantonese.  My coworker, who is white, found that "not right."  I agreed with her because you just don't know if they're talking about you.  I understand Cantonese and feel that this isn't right in a English speaking work environment.  They could've done it in the lunch room or the hallways where it's more discreet.

[tenkani]

 Well I took 3 semesters so I outrank you, soldier!
Yeah, there are folks in my area who believe everyone in California should have to learn Spanish, because it's only fair right?? I don't agree.Despite the historical context surrounding the californian land-grab, this state is now part of an English-speaking country. If you intend to live here then it's not unreasonable to ask that you learn the official language ASAP.
   

[P.C.]

   If I were to live in another country, I wouldn't want to be locked away into one little tiny corner of it, just because I couldn't communicate with the rest.  I can't imagine anything that would make me feel more isolated and alone. I've always believed that speaking the language of the country of your choice should be a requirement before one is granted the privelege of living there. Wouldn't it open up their/our world to do so?  

[purelife]

I would learn the language as well if it was official here.  If I was living in Spain, I'd learn to speak Spanish.

[tenkani]

 Yeah, PL, I have mixed feelings about that one.
If someone is bi-lingual is it Ok for them to talk in their native tongue in public (or work) with friends?
My wife was in that kind of situation. She worked at an electronics firm a long time ago in assembly and she was the only non-filipino in her section. She said it was soul crushing to sit around all day and never hear a word of English spoken unless her manager happened to drop in every couple of days.

I'm sure paranoia is a natural response to that kind of thing.
   

[P.C.]

Yeah, there are folks in my area who believe everyone in California should have to learn Spanish, because it's only fair right?? I don't agree.Despite the historical context surrounding the californian land-grab, this state is now part of an English-speaking country. If you intend to live here then it's not unreasonable to ask that you learn the official language ASAP.

  Agreed.  At least you are not expected to pay billions of dollars a year out of your tax dollars to have every product printed in two languages. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c004.gif" border=0]

[Sportsdude]

lol PC thats already happening here.
Bi-lingualism doesn't bother me actually I kinda think its cool.
 

[P.C.]

I have a minor tantrum every time I pick up a product and have to turn it over and back trying to find the English.  And because these teeny tiny labels must contain everything in both languages, you need a honking huge magnifying glass to read the teen tiny print.  (oh jeebus.....I'm getting agitated just thinking about it) [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c008.gif" border=0]