Lessons Learned

I fell into the trap. You know, the "those dang foreigners can't speak English well and I don't want to deal with them" trap. The story unfolds on a sunny, clear day in the middle of May in Conyers, GA. I walked into Target. You know, this place:

You should know first my mission (this becomes an important part of the story later, so read on).
Shortly after our honeymoon, we went to Target to use some of our gift cards and get some things for the house. I had calculated how much we had, and was surprised when we had to pay as much out of pocket as we did. I realized on the way home that night what had happened--I had banked on getting a credit from returning some of our gifts (we'd gotten doubles of some things, yadda yadda). I called to see if it would be possible to (a) return said gift items and get a gift card; (b) "return" some of the items we'd just purchased (not physically, but on paper); (c) "repurchase" those items using the gift card and (d) get a credit back to my bank account for that amount. She said she wasn't sure but to come in and try. (Are you thoroughly confused? It confuses me just talking about it.)

Back to yesterday (you remember, sunny day, blah blah). I walked into Target and saw the lady at the customer service counter. She was helping another customer and I noticed right away (a) her skin tone and (b) her heavy accent. I admit it. I thought in my head, "she's never going to be able to understand what I need to happen. I wonder if I can diplomatically request someone else to help me...aka an American." Yes, that's exactly what I thought. Judge me if you like--I'm just being honest.

May, as her name happened to be, came over to see what I needed. I explained everything to her. I'll have you know that May took good care of me. She made sure I got everything I needed, including some finagling on her part to make sure that I got the full amount that I'd paid originally (despite the fact that some of the items we'd purchased were now on sale.) She did so efficiently and in the most friendly manner possible. Holy cow. I walked out of the store with my head a little lower than when I had come in.

Lessons learned for the day: (and at this point, I'd like to put in a plug for a book I've read, Sophie's Heart. There is a part of the book that is along the same lines.)

• Most "foreigners," "extranjeros" as they are called in Spanish, are not stupid. Lack of understanding of any particular language does not constitute lack of knowledge in general. I have three college degrees, but if I went to Yugoslavia right now I'd sound like a babbling idiot. I have spoken to plenty of American-born, American-bred folks who couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper sack, if you know what I mean. :)
  
• Having a heavy accent on the hearer's part also does not necessarily translate (pardon the pun) into the need to speak slowly and loudly on the speaker's part. Just because someone's speech gives away their native tongue (or land) doesn't mean their ears don't hear English (even our Southern drawl) perfectly fine.
• I agree that, if you come to America you should learn English. Not because it's "our country," because technically we weren't here first, but because it's the official language of this nation. (If I were going to live in Costa Rica I would learn...well, that's a bad example--I already speak Spanish. If I were going to live in Brazil, dear friends, I'd learn Portuguese.) That being said, I count it a privilege that I was born here. I'm thankful for the freedoms we have as American citizens to worship our God, educate our children, raise our families and care for our loved ones (for the most part) as we choose. I do not take it lightly that thousands have died to defend those rights, even if they may not personally believe in them. One of the blessings we have as a nation is the fact that people in other countries desire to be here. I'm not sure, but I don't think that Afghanistan, Mexico, or Ireland has people beating down their borders to get in (I may be wrong, but...) Just because I was born here doesn't mean I think "we" are the only people entitled to be here. I believe there should be control on immigration and such, but for those people who have taken the steps to be here legally and desire to become a fruitful part of our citizenry (is that a word? probably not.), I say welcome. :)
• May was a really nice lady. :)