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Across the Fence:  Guess I should have studied Spanish, not French!  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 22 2009 : 08:50:33 AM
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We are closing a loan for a customer, who has a loan with some company I've never heard of...and could find very little information on the Internet. What I did find, was in San Jaun, Puerto Rico, after using a fax number that was consistently busy for 6 hours....
So, I call the 800 number. The recording is in Spanish. Then, I called the "local" number...and a hispanic woman answered the phone. I told her I didn't speak Spanish, and she called to someone, a male, who answered the phone, "May I help you?" I advised that I was calling for a payoff quote and looking for this bank...he said, rather nicely, "Oh, this USED to be their telephone number, but now it's just a residence. Hold on, my grandmother used to know their number by heart..." So off he called to Grandmother, but bless her, she's forgotten!!! I laughed for about 10 minutes solid!!!
Finally, I did manage to get an English speaking hispanic on the 800 line, but found that they don't have this loan listed....or maybe we just weren't on communicating that well 
Guess I know how it feels now to be non-English speaking in a world where English is the main language!!! |
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MarySueK
True Blue Farmgirl
96 Posts
Susan
Richland
WA
96 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2009 : 10:04:37 AM
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In our old neighborhood I saw water gushing out of the side of a house next to the hose faucet, so I rang their doorbell. The old grandma who lived with them and babysat during the day spoke only Spanish.. so I dredged up my high school Spanish and said "agua!" and "su casa!" and pointed to the side of the house. She went and looked and let out a flood of Spanish which I didn't follow except that she was going to phone someone. I wish I had kept up with my Spanish since most of it is LONG gone.
Sue in Richland WA |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2009 : 10:44:15 AM
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| Agh! That makes me laugh! I took it in 6th grade, but I surely don't recall much more than Leche, Agua, Su Casa and Gracias! |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2009 : 12:05:26 PM
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:) We went to Belize on our honeymoon because I wanted tropical and DH wanted English. :) I only got to use my Spanish once, in a grocery store, to translate a question for a customer so the check out person could help her. :) It's great to be helpful.
We make a difference. http://huckleberrywine.blogspot.com |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2009 : 1:42:49 PM
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| Speaking of French vs. Spanish, my mom took French class all through high school and then switched to being a Spanish major in college. When she traveled to Spain to do her study abroad, there was confusion about the luggage of her group being sent to the wrong gate in the Paris airport. Among all those Spanish majors, she was the only one who could speak to the airport employee in French to find out where their luggage was. |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2009 : 06:18:13 AM
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| Yes, she was! Ironically, I took Spanish in high school and now I wish I'd taken French. We live so close to Canada... |
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Across the Fence: Guess I should have studied Spanish, not French! |
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Guess I should have studied Spanish, not French!
