We've been in Cabarete for a few days now and this is where I will be staying the rest of my trip. Tomorrow I will switch to a different hotel when the other ISV participants fly home. Overall it has been an amazing trip. Cabarete is a very international town; many people come to visit it in order to go surfing, kite boarding and/or wind surfing. There are a lot of little shops with people trying to see you souvenirs. There are many great places to eat and hangout, some right on the beach.
It is much easier to get around in this town as a non-Spanish speaker than it has been in other places. Most of the employees around town speak at least some English. Being in a country where I do not speak the language has really shaped my views about language. I think that in our home countries we take for granted the ability to communicate. It is something I feel is very personal. With another English speaker I can explain myself clearly, ask questions and even make jokes that use idioms, metaphors or other figures of speech. Without the ability to communicate I have felt very vulnerable. I also feel like I understand so much about another person by what he or she says and how it is said. I use language to read a person and decide if I should trust them or like them. The times I have not been able to communicate have been the most frustrating parts of my trip. I remember one day stopping at a fastfood place as we were traveling. I did my best to order chicken fingers and a drink and then understand the price. The woman was fed up with my inability to communicate/understand her and I felt she was down-right rude. I did manage to pay, get my food and move along but I was almost in tears over the frustration of this simple task. I want to be clear that this is not a typical experience. Most places I have been people are much more understanding and they will show you the price on paper or calculator and together the Spanish speaker and I can awkwardly manage a mutual understanding. These experiences have just reinforced my distaste for people who complain about Hispanic immigrants in Columbus (or any American town for that matter) who cannot speak English. Being the language minority automatically puts you at a disadvantage -- to be treated cruelty, cheated or just to be unable to express your needs on a daily basis.
All the time I have been here I have wished that I could speak Spanish-- just to have a fair advantage, to communicate with people, to learn to follow directions -- everything. I cannot imagine that any immigrant or traveler would not feel the same way -- but the truth is language is difficult and complicated, even for myself, a college educated high school teacher. So, my request is if you ever find yourself complaining about a minority language speaker, remember my stories and if you here others complaining please, on my behalf, stand up to them -- because speaking from experience not being able to speak the language is one of the most frustrating, embarrassing and disadvantaged positions you can be in.
It is much easier to get around in this town as a non-Spanish speaker than it has been in other places. Most of the employees around town speak at least some English. Being in a country where I do not speak the language has really shaped my views about language. I think that in our home countries we take for granted the ability to communicate. It is something I feel is very personal. With another English speaker I can explain myself clearly, ask questions and even make jokes that use idioms, metaphors or other figures of speech. Without the ability to communicate I have felt very vulnerable. I also feel like I understand so much about another person by what he or she says and how it is said. I use language to read a person and decide if I should trust them or like them. The times I have not been able to communicate have been the most frustrating parts of my trip. I remember one day stopping at a fastfood place as we were traveling. I did my best to order chicken fingers and a drink and then understand the price. The woman was fed up with my inability to communicate/understand her and I felt she was down-right rude. I did manage to pay, get my food and move along but I was almost in tears over the frustration of this simple task. I want to be clear that this is not a typical experience. Most places I have been people are much more understanding and they will show you the price on paper or calculator and together the Spanish speaker and I can awkwardly manage a mutual understanding. These experiences have just reinforced my distaste for people who complain about Hispanic immigrants in Columbus (or any American town for that matter) who cannot speak English. Being the language minority automatically puts you at a disadvantage -- to be treated cruelty, cheated or just to be unable to express your needs on a daily basis.
All the time I have been here I have wished that I could speak Spanish-- just to have a fair advantage, to communicate with people, to learn to follow directions -- everything. I cannot imagine that any immigrant or traveler would not feel the same way -- but the truth is language is difficult and complicated, even for myself, a college educated high school teacher. So, my request is if you ever find yourself complaining about a minority language speaker, remember my stories and if you here others complaining please, on my behalf, stand up to them -- because speaking from experience not being able to speak the language is one of the most frustrating, embarrassing and disadvantaged positions you can be in.
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