I have come to accept that people think I'm hispanic. Whatever. When people approach me at the airport, hoping that I speak spanish, I let them know that I speak very little, but will do what I can to help. My spanish isn't pretty, but at least they get the idea.
I took 4 years of Spanish in school, grades 7-10. 10th grade was a LONG time ago. I don't remember much but it is a good thing they focused so much attention on travel. I know a few words that help when you work in an airport. :)
There is one supervisor who has asked me everytime she saw me for the last 2 months if I spoke Spanish (She happens to be black and DOES speak Spanish). Everytime I tell her no. It has kind of become a joke between us that she keeps asking. She asked again this past Sunday. I told her I still didn't speak Spanish. This time her response to me was "I don't know what is up with all you Hispanics that don't speak Spanish." I looked at her and said "I'm not Hispanic. I'm American Indian. Cherokee." Her entire attitude toward me changed. I was no longer some idiot who was ignoring my heritage. She the proceeded to have a conversation with me about ethnic background. Apparently one of her grandmothers was Indian.
In the end we had an interesting conversation. Only time will tell if she gets off my back about knowing Spanish. ;)
1 comment:
I had to scroll down to look at your photo again. You look more indian than hispanic to me- but I've known you for years and years now...I don't remember thinking you were hispanic when we started working at the hotel. I don't remember thinking you looked like anything in particular =) I used to get asked if I was japanese (I think it was the squinty eyes)
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