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After a year of not working, I started a new job last week at a big truck stop. Customers have been okay so far, understanding of going through a major renovation, because we switched names on our sign.
I had this one older man come in last night, talking about some of the truck drivers. He said that they didn't speak a word of English, and wanted to tell them to "get out of my country" because he hates immigrants. I said, "If they're native american language speakers, this is their country." He stopped for a second and said, "I mean the Russian truck drivers who don't speak English. I wanted to tell them GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY! because I'm sick and tired of them emigrating here." (They were probably talking in their native tongue at the time, and could understand English. I think they were the ones I rang up later on, and they couldn't have been more polite to me). I ended the conversation with silence then, and finished ringing him up, in a professional manner-- making it obvious I didn't agree with him, and I couldn't say that your ancestors came here as immigrants and you're an anchored by my ancestors baby just like I am. (Well sort of. I do have a mix of Sioux, Powhatan, and Omaha thanks to my parents) I never had met one of these types in day to day life. Just on the internet, until now. Ah, travelers.
This is the same driver who couldn't figure out why Facebook logged him out when he got disconnected from the internet, a bit before that. FB wasn't letting him back in. I had to tell him that he needs to get a password reset link if it wasn't working anymore. I got a good laugh about it later.
I had this one older man come in last night, talking about some of the truck drivers. He said that they didn't speak a word of English, and wanted to tell them to "get out of my country" because he hates immigrants. I said, "If they're native american language speakers, this is their country." He stopped for a second and said, "I mean the Russian truck drivers who don't speak English. I wanted to tell them GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY! because I'm sick and tired of them emigrating here." (They were probably talking in their native tongue at the time, and could understand English. I think they were the ones I rang up later on, and they couldn't have been more polite to me). I ended the conversation with silence then, and finished ringing him up, in a professional manner-- making it obvious I didn't agree with him, and I couldn't say that your ancestors came here as immigrants and you're an anchored by my ancestors baby just like I am. (Well sort of. I do have a mix of Sioux, Powhatan, and Omaha thanks to my parents) I never had met one of these types in day to day life. Just on the internet, until now. Ah, travelers.
This is the same driver who couldn't figure out why Facebook logged him out when he got disconnected from the internet, a bit before that. FB wasn't letting him back in. I had to tell him that he needs to get a password reset link if it wasn't working anymore. I got a good laugh about it later.
"I AM speaking French!" -- I would imagine that Cajun is closer to Canadian French than standard French (Cajun originated in what is now Nova Scotia, iirc), tho it probably still sounds quite distinct. Almost certainly still comprehensible, if odd.
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